used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
(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 "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
bitternessnounUS /ˈbɪtərnəs/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
boorsnounUS /bʊrz/
plural of “boor” — a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/
move away from a place into another direction
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
Isabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
the literary culture
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
Macconichie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
postmannounUS /ˈpoʊstmən/
a man who delivers the mail
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
rat-tatnoun
a series of short sharp taps (as made by strokes on a drum or knocks on a door)
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
recurring again and again
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
Scotchmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
push forcefully
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
up to a particular time
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
except if; if not
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
at the time that
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Since Mrs. Macconichie and her husband were both out, and she had the house to herself, there was nothing else for her to do, unless she wished the postman to depart with the letters.
