used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
the two together, not just one
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
Brett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
Colquhoun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
greatly pleased
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
Dino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
HugonounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
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 WHAT PERCIVAL KNEW.
immediately past
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
lawyer'snounUS /ˈlɔːjərz/
possessive form of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
Luttrell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
PERCIVAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT PERCIVAL KNEW.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
unprofessionaladjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈfeʃənəl/
not characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading His bow to Dino was a little stiff: his greeting of Hugo more cordial than usual.
Vasarinoun
Italian painter and art historian (1511-1574)
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
well-lightedadjective
provided with artificial light
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
well-warmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT PERCIVAL KNEW.
at the time that
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was a surprise to both of them when the door was opened to admit Dino Vasari and Hugo Luttrell: two of the last visitors whom Mr. Colquhoun expected.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading Mr. Colquhoun and Mr. Brett were sitting over their wine in the well-lighted, well-warmed dining-room of the lawyer's house.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading They had been friends in their earlier days, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting (in a strictly unprofessional way) and chatting over the memories of their youth.
