used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
absent-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
biscuitsnounUS /ˈbɪskəts/
plural of “biscuit” — small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
bottlesnounUS /ˈbɑːtəlz/
plural of “bottle” — a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
bustlingadjectiveUS /ˈbʌsəlɪŋ/
full of energetic and noisy activity
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
an occurrence of something
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
a small house with a single story
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
eccentricadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsentrɪk/
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
hamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
a message received and understood
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
intimating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
jarsnounUS /dʒɑːrz/
Wide-mouthed cylindrical containers made of clay or glass, used for storing goods.
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
the act of departing
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
lemonadenounUS /ˈleməˈneɪd/
sweetened beverage of diluted lemon juice
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
something that is lost
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
a particular point in time
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
moodilyadverb
in a moody manner
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
information about recent and important events
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
being perceived or observed
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
pipesnounUS /paɪps/
plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
prominentlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmənəntli/
in a prominent way
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
on the contrary
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
do one's shopping
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
a lightweight cord
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
caught or fixed
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
sweetsnounUS /swiːts/
plural of “sweet” — English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If any gossip—any news or information was to be collected regarding any one in the place, it was surely to be got in such a house as this, and my hand was on the check string in a moment.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
tidyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪdi/
marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
up to a particular time
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I was a little at a loss how to begin till I noticed some bottles of lemonade in a case behind the little counter, and asked to be served with two.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/
edge of a way or road or path
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
at the time that
From this reading I therefore bade the eccentric man rather an absent-minded good-bye, and had moodily settled myself in the cab for a good think, when a sudden thought came to me as we were leaving the hamlet behind.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
wipingverbUS /ˈwaɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A little further down the road from the house we had visited was a wayside cottage with a few jars of sweets and biscuits and a couple of tobacco pipes stuck prominently in one of the windows, thus intimating that the place was meant for a shop.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading When I got inside the cottage, a clean, tidy woman came bustling through from the back room, wiping her hands on her apron as she came.
