used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
of short duration or distance
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
a boy or man
From this reading "Hello, old chap!
rid of obstructions
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
deliverancenounUS /dɪˈlɪvərəns/
recovery or preservation from loss or danger
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
divisible by two
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
set up or found
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
HellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading "Hello, old chap!
the aggregate of past events
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
long-expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Hello, old chap!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
possibilitiesnounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiz/
plural of “possibility” — a future prospect or potential
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the interval too brief to reckon before turning round two possibilities were clear in my mind.
not known
From this reading The unknown crime from which I was running away might have found me out—or some friend had come to my deliverance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
accept gladly
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
at the time that
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the fourth afternoon when, drifting with the crowd through a corridor lined with tables at which small parties were having tea, I felt the long-expected tap on my shoulder.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Either event would be welcome, for even if it were arrest I should learn my name and history.
