used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
in the past
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
complacencynounUS /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
creditableadjectiveUS /ˈkredətəbəl/
worthy of often limited commendation
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
Francisco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
a man of refinement
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
juniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
MontgomerynounUS /mɑːntˈɡʌmri/
Canadian novelist (1874-1942)
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
outingnounUS /ˈaʊtɪŋ/
a journey taken for pleasure
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
partnernounUS /ˈpɑːrtnər/
a person's partner in marriage
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
Rowland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
ruggedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌɡəd/
sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
Starland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend, said:
three-score
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
warrantedverbUS /ˈwɔːrəntɪd/
past form of “warrant” — provide adequate grounds to justify (a certain course of action)
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of rugged health, well to do and prosperous.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland, Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject in which both were much interested.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and which was warranted by their circumstances.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
a late time of life
From this reading They had got on for many years without so much as a shadow of difference between them.
