used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
AbrahamnounUS /ˈeɪbrəhæm/
the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
bloomnounUS /bluːm/
the organic process of bearing flowers
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
botheredadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːðərd/
caused to show discomposure
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
a youthful male person
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
Coombe-Acton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
deathbednounUS /ˈdeθbed/
the last few hours before death
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
an act that fails
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
a social unit living together
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
a person who operates a farm
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
farmer'snounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
possessive form of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
forfeitedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrfɪtɪd/
surrendered as a penalty
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
Gerald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
hawthornnounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/
a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
and nothing more
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
immediately past
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
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 Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
LeighnounUS /liː/
English film actress (1913-1967)
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
for more time
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
not any; not one
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
roundlyadverbUS /ˈraʊndli/
in a round manner
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
sickenedverbUS /ˈsɪkənd/
past form of “sicken” — cause aversion in; offend the moral sense of
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
single-handedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəlˈhændɪd/
unsupported by other people
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
a male human offspring
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
stolidadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːləd/
having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
summonedverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Gerald had been summoned, but arrived too late to see his father alive.
traditionsnounUS /trəˈdɪʃənz/
plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
upheavalnounUS /əpˈhiːvəl/
a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)
From this reading However, although Gerald's upheaval of family traditions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy, he showed that his son had not forfeited his love.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
WatercressnounUS /ˈwɔːtərkres/
any of several water-loving cresses
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
at the time that
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
whitestadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtɪst/
superlative of “white” — being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
which person or people
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The nephew who had taken Gerald's place had turned out an utter failure, so much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly declared that he would be bothered with no more boys, and for the last few years had managed his business single-handed.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Perhaps it was as well it should be so, the farmer's last moments were troubled ones and full of regret that Watercress Farm would no longer know a Leigh.
a late time of life
From this reading Some seven years after the ambitious boy left Coombe-Acton, honest farmer Abraham, just when the old-fashioned hawthorn hedges were in whitest bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face to the wall and died.
