used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
at any time
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
the quality of innocent naivete
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
ironicaladjectiveUS /aɪˈrɑːnɪkəl/
characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
and nothing more
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
laundrynounUS /ˈlɔːndri/
garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
pondnounUS /pɑːnd/
a small lake
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
puppiesnounUS /ˈpʌpiz/
plural of “puppy” — a young dog
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading His had been a selfish life hitherto, he feared.
significantadjectiveUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important in effect or meaning
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
the state of being asleep
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
spare-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
carry out
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
tapsnounUS /tæps/
(military) signal to turn the lights out
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
tinklenounUS /ˈtɪŋkəl/
a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
tubnounUS /tʌb/
a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
on a floor above
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading These puppies were just what he needed to take him out of himself.
at the time that
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/
the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading Busy with these thoughts, he did not notice the ironical whistling coming from the pond.
in the company of; together with
From this reading One of the laundry tub taps was dripping, with a soft measured tinkle: he said to himself that he really must have it attended to.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading All these domestic matters seemed more significant than ever when he thought of youthful innocence sleeping upstairs in the spare-room bed.
