used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
adventurer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
ChevaliernounUS /ˌʃevəˈlɪr/
French actor and cabaret singer (1888-1972)
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
coloniesnounUS /ˈkɑːləniz/
plural of “colony” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
carefully weighed
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
Croustillac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
declarationnounUS /ˌdeklərˈeɪʃən/
a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
set up or found
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
Griffen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE PRIEST'S HOUSE.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
not in action or at work
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
Macouba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
MartiniquenounUS /mɑːrtɪˈniːk/
an island in the eastern Caribbean in the Windward Islands; administered as an overseas region of France
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
PierrenounUS /piˈer/
capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
PRIEST'SnounUS /priːsts/
possessive form of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading THE PRIEST'S HOUSE.
quitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
requiringverbUS /riˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
-ing form of “require” — require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRIEST'S HOUSE.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
UnicornnounUS /ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/
an imaginary creature represented as a white horse with a long horn growing from its forehead
From this reading The Unicorn had anchored at Martinique three days.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Chevalier de Croustillac found himself landed in the colonies with but very little money in his pocket.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The captain and passengers had considered the adventurer's declaration that before a month had passed he would be the husband of Blue Beard, as an idle boast.
but in spite of that
From this reading Father Griffen, having some matters requiring his attention before his return to his parish of Macouba, had not as yet quitted Fort St. Pierre.
