used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
a youthful male person
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading While he was waiting, he walked up and down his room.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
destroyed or killed
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "This is nonsense!" he told himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This is nonsense!" he told himself.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
and nothing more
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
Mary'snounUS /ˈmeriz/
possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
a person who carries a message
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading "This is nonsense!" he told himself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading While he was waiting, he walked up and down his room.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
sentencesnounUS /ˈsentənsəz/
plural of “sentence” — a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
solicitorsnounUS /səˈlɪsətərz/
plural of “solicitor” — a petitioner who solicits contributions or trade or votes
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/
travel slowly
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is nonsense!" he told himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
precisely as stated
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading While he was waiting, he walked up and down his room.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading While he was waiting, he walked up and down his room.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JAMES received Mary's letter, by a happy chance, just as he was about to ring up his solicitors and ask them to send him some papers that he wanted to show her next day.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
(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 As that was so, he told the man to get him a taxi--he could very well finish the letter on his way home.
at the time that
From this reading When he had read its first few sentences, he asked for the messenger boy, but his clerk told him that the boy had already gone.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was waiting, he walked up and down his room.
