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Chapter I
Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door. 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. As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed. "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness. She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.”
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.”
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.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.”
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.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.”
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.”
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.”
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 important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
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.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
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.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
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.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it was, when she appeared at the door, he grumbled at being delayed.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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.
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.
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.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "These Scotchmen are all boors," she told herself, in her bitterness.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
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.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked at the letter which had been thrust into her hand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
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 important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
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.
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.
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.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Isabel waited till the rat-tat was repeated a second time, then she went down to the front door.
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.
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.
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.
