used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading Garton was glad to be alone as it afforded him a quiet time for thought.
after-dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
cosynounUS /ˈkoʊzi/
a padded cloth covering to keep a teapot warm
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
Garton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
usually; as a rule
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Garton was glad to be alone as it afforded him a quiet time for thought.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
maid'snounUS /meɪdz/
possessive form of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
phonedverbUS /foʊnd/
past form of “phone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading Garton was glad to be alone as it afforded him a quiet time for thought.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Garton was glad to be alone as it afforded him a quiet time for thought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But he had been late coming from the office and by the time he had finished his dinner the children were put to bed, as this was the maid's evening out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE ROCKS Charles Garton was seated in his cosy study smoking his after-dinner cigar.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was unusual for him to be alone at this hour of the evening, as his wife and children were generally with him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mrs. Garton was attending a church "affair" and would not be home until ten, so she had phoned.
