used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
anew
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
dinner-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
for more time
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
onlookernounUS /ˈɔːnlʊkər/
someone who looks on
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
pseudoadjectiveUS /ˈsuːdoʊ/
(often used in combination) not genuine but having the appearance of
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
Richford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
self-elected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
not in physical motion
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
in or at that place or location
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could see Beatrice leaning back as if the pain in her head had made her oblivious to everything else.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
except if; if not
From this reading The self-elected waiter could not stay there much longer, in any case, at least not unless the suspicious Richford took it in his head to return to the dinner-table again.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
waiternounUS /ˈweɪtər/
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As a matter of fact, Beatrice was racking her brains for some way out of the difficulty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading From the point of view of the onlooker there could have been nothing suspicious in the attitude of the pseudo waiter with his tray.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It is so good of you to come," Beatrice said, still with her head thrown back in the air.
