used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
aperturenounUS /ˈæpərtʃər/
a device that controls amount of light admitted
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
apologizedverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/
past form of “apologize” — acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
a youthful male person
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
a boy or man
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
eminentlyadverbUS /ˈemənəntli/
in an eminent manner
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
hallwaynounUS /ˈhɔːlweɪ/
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
oughtn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
persuasivelyadverbUS /pərˈsweɪsɪvli/
in a persuasive manner
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
protestingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Lee, it seemed, knew him slightly and called him by name.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
soakingnounUS /ˈsoʊkɪŋ/
the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
From this reading “We’re soaking wet, Starling.”
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
StarlingnounUS /ˈstɑːrlɪŋ/
gregarious birds native to the Old World
From this reading “We’re soaking wet, Starling.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Laurie knew that he had seen him somewhere, but it was not until they had followed, somewhat protestingly, into a hallway and from there into a large and shadowy drawing-room that he recognized him as one of the day pupils.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We oughtn’t to come in here,” Lee apologized.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re soaking wet, Starling.”
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading “We’re soaking wet, Starling.”
which person or people
From this reading The invitation came from a boy of about sixteen, a slim, eminently attractive chap, who smiled persuasively through the aperture.