used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
aggressiveadjectiveUS /əˈɡresɪv/
having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
put or send forth
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
discernibleadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɜːrnəbəl/
perceptible by the senses or intellect
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
displeasedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspliːzd/
not pleased; experiencing or manifesting displeasure
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
the organ of sight
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
forty-twoadjective
being two more than forty
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
HemlocknounUS /ˈhemlɑːk/
poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
Hollanden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
importantlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəntli/
in an important way or to an important degree
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
jurynounUS /ˈdʒʊri/
a body of citizens sworn to give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in a court of law
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
measurementsnounUS /ˈmeʒərmənts/
plural of “measurement” — the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
not any; not one
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
on one occasion
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
respectabilitynounUS /riˌspektəˈbɪlɪti/
honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
except for; apart from
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
searchinglyadverb
in a searching manner
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
be seated
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
carry out
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They sit in a large group on that porch and take measurements of character as importantly as if they constituted the jury of heaven.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fifteen are middle-aged ladies of the most aggressive respectability.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading One day Hollanden said: "There are forty-two people at Hemlock Inn, I think.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
at the time that
From this reading When I arrived at Hemlock Inn I at once cast my eye searchingly about me.
in or at the place that
From this reading They have come here for no discernible purpose save to get where they can see people and be displeased at them.
