Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

a man who drives a coach (or carriage)

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

the act of departing

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

destroyed or killed

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

plural of “gossip” — light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

cases used to carry belongings when traveling

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

not any; not one

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

a brief written record

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

on one occasion

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He had not left any message or note for Marcello.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

the husband of your mother by a subsequent marriage

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The coachman had driven him to the station and had seen no more of him.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

at the time that

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading This was as it should be, and Marcello did not care to know whither he had gone, since he was out of the house.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was late in the evening when Marcello reached the villa, and was told that his stepfather had left suddenly with his valet, before sunset, taking a good deal of luggage with him.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He was glad, however, that he had left Rome at once instead of going to an hotel, which would have made an interesting topic of conversation for gossips.