used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the rest were lighting cigarettes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
eagerly desirous
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
beatersnounUS /ˈbiːtərz/
plural of “beater” — a worker who rouses wild game from under cover for a hunter
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
Bellingdown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
Broken-Hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
Carleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
cigarettesnounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈets/
plural of “cigarette” — finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading All the rest were lighting cigarettes.
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/
-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
a special loved one
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
head-keeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
houndsnounUS /haʊndz/
plural of “hound” — any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
humilitynounUS /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/
a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
defying expression or description
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
immediately past
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading All the rest were lighting cigarettes.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
nibbleverbUS /ˈnɪbəl/
bite off very small pieces
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
arrange in a container
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading All the rest were lighting cigarettes.
sipnounUS /sɪp/
a small drink
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
SurprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Surprises for the Broken-Hearted A little beyond, the forty beaters stood huddled together like a pack of hounds.
precisely as stated
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the rest were lighting cigarettes.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The duke was taking a last sip and a nibble, while his hostess begged him not to hurry.
which person or people
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The head-keeper, that personage of indescribable majesty and humility, was consulting with Bellingdown, who looked very anxious.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You smoke, of course," Carleigh was asking Mrs. Darling.
