used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
the state of being absent
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
react verbally
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
AshenounUS /æʃ/
United States tennis player who was the first Black to win United States and English singles championships (1943-1993)
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
boarding-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
brotherliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
egotismnounUS /ˈiːɡətɪzəm/
an exaggerated opinion of your own importance
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
jestingadjective
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
the force of workers available
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
not any; not one
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
palenessnoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
reproached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
Staggchase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He glanced at Ashe, and was struck by the paleness of his friend.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had had no real interest in them after all, he reflected; and at the thought he reproached himself with egotism and a lack of brotherliness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
triflingnounUS /ˈtraɪflɪŋ/
the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
From this reading The jesting seemed to him trifling; and his companions, compared to the men he had seen during his stay with Mrs. Staggchase, appeared like boys chattering at boarding-school.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
in or at the place that
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered where they had been for their absence; then he remembered that they had all told him, and that he had forgotten.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Maurice was out of the mood of the company, but he tried to answer with a light word.
