used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
giving or marked by complete attention to
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
chatverbUS /tʃæt/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
the first light of day
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
diagnosisnounUS /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsəs/
identifying the nature or cause of some phenomenon
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
opinion or judgment
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
having the pinkish flush of health
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
hall-porter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
hotelsnounUS /hoʊˈtelz/
plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
Langholm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
immediately past
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
and nothing more
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
quieteradjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətər/
comparative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
registerverbUS /ˈredʒɪstər/
record in writing; enter into a book of names or events or transactions
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading But the porter knew that Langholm had come in sober, and that for the last twenty minutes he had sat absorbed in the hotel register.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
someone who visits
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DAWN The hall-porter was only too ready for further chat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading It was the dull season, and this visitor was one of a variety always popular in the quieter hotels; he was never above a pleasant word with the servants.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His face was flushed, and his eyes so bright that there would have been but one diagnosis by the average observer.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet the porter stared at Langholm as he approached.
