used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
ashenadjectiveUS /ˈæʃən/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
FACINGnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
GenoanounUS /ˈdʒenoʊə/
a seaport in northwestern Italy; provincial capital of Liguria
From this reading The postmark, he noticed, was Genoa.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
only a very short time before
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The postmark, he noticed, was Genoa.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
INEVITABLEadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
Madeline's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
being perceived or observed
From this reading The postmark, he noticed, was Genoa.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
postmarknounUS /ˈpoʊstmɑːrk/
a cancellation mark stamped on mail by postal officials; indicates the post office and date of mailing
From this reading The postmark, he noticed, was Genoa.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
sightedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪtɪd/
able to see
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
term of address for a man
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
SkylarkverbUS /ˈskaɪlɑːrk/
play boisterously
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
make steady
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A letter was handed to him in Madeline's handwriting.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
at the time that
From this reading FACING THE INEVITABLE When Saturday morning arrived and the _Skylark_ had not been sighted, Sir Charles began to grow suspicious.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He could hardly keep his hand steady while he tore open the envelope, and when he began to read his face grew ashen.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading An hour or two later his worst fears were confirmed.
