used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
at or in the front
From this reading "Go ahead," he answered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Go ahead," he answered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
BrooksnounUS /brʊks/
United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
Bullsom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
an occurrence of something
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
cursoryadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrsəri/
hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
many times at short intervals
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Go ahead," he answered.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
discontinued temporarily
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
the literary culture
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
a form of address for a man
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
NIECEnounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
not any; not one
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "No fear of our being interrupted.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
risernounUS /ˈraɪzər/
a person who rises (especially from bed)
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
unfoldedverbUS /ənˈfoʊldɪd/
past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNCLE AND NIECE Mr. Bullsom was an early riser, and it chanced that, as was frequently the case, on the morning following Brooks' visit he and Mary sat down to breakfast together.
at the time that
From this reading But when, after a cursory glance through his letters, he unfolded the paper, she stopped him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Uncle," she said, "I want to talk to you for a few minutes, if I may."
