used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
how long something has existed
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
any thing at all
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
Barry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
bewilderinglyadverb
in a bewildering and confusing manner
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
furnishingsnounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪŋz/
plural of “furnishing” — (usually plural) accessory wearing apparel
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
a young female
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
Hamersley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
of great significance or value
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
JacobnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
the act of departing
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
a room where books are kept
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
mantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
panelingnounUS /ˈpænəlɪŋ/
a panel or section of panels in a wall or door
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
with speed
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
possessing material wealth
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
express in words
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
transportedverbUS /trænˈspɔːrtɪd/
past form of “transport” — move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
understandinglyadverb
with understanding
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Tell him that I’m delayed, but that it’s most important he should wait at the club until I can get down there."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
at the time that
From this reading The secretary nodded, and, gathering up list and book, was leaving the room when Barry had a sudden idea.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At one end was a fireplace with a carved oak mantel and paneling black with age, which looked as if it had been transported from some old English country house—as it probably had.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girl nodded understandingly, and disappeared into the hall; while Lawrence followed his hostess through some wide doors at the farther end of the drawing-room into a library lined with books and as bewilderingly rich in its furnishings as the rest of the house.
YalenounUS /jeɪl/
a university in Connecticut
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Before you do anything else," he said quickly, "will you please call the Yale Club and get Mr. Jacob Hamersley, junior?
