used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
the state of being absent
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
having companions or an escort
From this reading So William gloomily and reluctantly accompanied his family to London.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
for the reason that
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
blamelessadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪmləs/
free of guilt; not subject to blame
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
a youthful male person
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/
for the most part
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
a social unit living together
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
gloomilyadverbUS /ˈɡluːməli/
with gloom
From this reading So William gloomily and reluctantly accompanied his family to London.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
go away from a place
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
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 He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading So William gloomily and reluctantly accompanied his family to London.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So William gloomily and reluctantly accompanied his family to London.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had many noble qualities, but he had not that one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
which person or people
From this reading William was not the sort of boy who could be trusted to live a quiet and blameless life at home in the absence of his parents.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
WILLIAM'SnounUS /ˈwɪljəmz/
possessive form of “williams” — United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953)
From this reading WILLIAM’S EVENING OUT William’s family had come up to London for a holiday.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had brought William with them chiefly because it was not safe to leave William behind.
