used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
in the past
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading Lady Elphinspoon looked at her husband anxiously.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are home early, John?" she queried.
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
baronet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
brilliancenounUS /ˈbrɪljəns/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "You are home early, John?" she queried.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
Elphinspoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
the organ of sight
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
glistenedverbUS /ˈɡlɪsənd/
past form of “glisten” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
hangsnounUS /hæŋz/
plural of “hang” — a special way of doing something
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Elphinspoon looked at her husband anxiously.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "You are home early, John?" she queried.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Lady Elphinspoon looked at her husband anxiously.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Elphinspoon looked at her husband anxiously.
held up in the air
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Lady Elphinspoon looked at her husband anxiously.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
queriedverbUS /ˈkwɪrid/
inflected form of “query” — pose a question
From this reading "You are home early, John?" she queried.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
term of address for a man
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
in the near future
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading For a moment, as he said "England," the baronet's eye glistened and his ears lifted as if in defiance, but as soon as he stopped saying it his eye lost its brilliance and his ears dropped wearily at the sides of his head.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading "The fate of England hangs upon it," murmured Sir John Elphinspoon, as he sank wearily into an armchair.
a late time of life
From this reading She could not conceal from herself that his face, as he sank into his chair, seemed somehow ten years older than it had been ten years ago.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are home early, John?" she queried.
