used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
the two together, not just one
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
Buell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
clothingnounUS /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/
a covering designed to be worn on a person's body
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
set up or found
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
the act of departing
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
HamptonnounUS /ˈhæmptən/
United States musician who was the first to use the vibraphone as a jazz instrument (1913-2002)
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
interpretedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrprətəd/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
conformity or harmony
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
lidnounUS /lɪd/
either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
log-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
MajoradjectiveUS /ˈmeɪdʒər/
of greater importance or stature or rank
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
RODERICK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading He found the Major seated before a bright log-fire, and his first glance around the old familiar room showed the progress of some unusual preparations.
violinnounUS /vaɪəˈlɪn/
bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading The open lid of a traveling trunk revealed clothing and books already packed; the violin in its case rested on the centre table.
visitor'snounUS /ˈvɪzɪtərz/
possessive form of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RODERICK was prompt to the minute in keeping his appointment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
wondermentnounUS /ˈwʌndərmənt/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading Buell Hampton interpreted his visitor’s look of wonderment.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, Roderick,” he said with a smile that was both tender and serious, “I am going away.
