used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
Boyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
dominateverbUS /ˈdɑːməneɪt/
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
the organ of sight
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
frugaladjectiveUS /ˈfruːɡəl/
avoiding waste
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
individualitynounUS /ˌɪndɪvɪdʒuːˈælɪti/
the quality of being individual
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
and nothing more
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
immediately past
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
luxuriouslyadverb
in an indulgently luxurious manner
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
MaysnounUS /meɪz/
United States baseball player (born in 1931)
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
NapoleonnounUS /nəˈpoʊliən/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
occupiernounUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪər/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
PhasenounUS /feɪz/
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
relicnounUS /ˈrelɪk/
an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Collins rose, rang the bell for coffee, and handed round cigars.
sadnessnounUS /ˈsædnəs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
SinclairnounUS /sɪnˈkler/
United States writer whose novels argued for social reform (1878-1968)
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
SpeculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
stampedverbUS /stæmpt/
past form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
strokedverbUS /stroʊkt/
past form of “stroke” — touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
tastefullyadverbUS /ˈteɪstfəli/
with taste; in a tasteful manner
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
well-cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Speculations Collins, Sinclair and Boyce had just discussed an excellent glass of port after a frugal but well-cooked meal at Collins’ flat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
at the time that
From this reading Over the mantelpiece was an oar, a relic of the time when Collins had stroked his college boat to victory in the “Mays.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Four selected pictures were on the walls, but the eye was caught by ‘Napoleon, the Last Phase,’ which seemed to dominate the room, with its tortured sadness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room was tastefully but not luxuriously furnished, and was stamped with the individuality of the occupier.
