used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
all-importantadjective
of the greatest importance
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
anticipationsnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃənz/
plural of “anticipation” — an expectation
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
Bernard'snounUS /bərˈnɑːrdz/
possessive form of “bernard” — French physiologist noted for research on secretions of the alimentary canal and the glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
betrothedadjective
pledged to be married
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
candidatenounUS /ˈkændədeɪt/
a politician who is running for public office
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
competitorsnounUS /kəmˈpetətərz/
plural of “competitor” — the contestant you hope to defeat
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
dearly loved
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
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 My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
fulfilledadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
legaladjectiveUS /ˈliːɡəl/
established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
matrimonialadjectiveUS /ˌmætrəˈmoʊniəl/
of or relating to the state of marriage
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
information about recent and important events
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
not any; not one
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
Norman'snounUS /ˈnɔːrmənz/
possessive form of “norman” — United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
Pemberton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
programmenounUS /ˈproʊɡræm/
an announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
propheticadjectiveUS /prəˈfetɪk/
foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
Identical; not different.
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
schoolfellownoun
an acquaintance that you go to school with
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
carry out
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading There were many competitors, but if Stephen were successful, our wedding was to take place on the same day as Norman's.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading My brother and I had spent some time in watching and waiting for the all-important letter which was to decide whether this matrimonial programme could be carried out or no.
which person or people
From this reading My engagement to Stephen Hastings had fulfilled Uncle Bernard's prophetic hopes, and I was waiting eagerly for news from my betrothed, who was a candidate for an Indian legal appointment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
wooedverbUS /wuːd/
past form of “woo” — seek someone's favor
From this reading My brother had wooed sweet Lucy Pemberton, my dear friend and old schoolfellow, and expected to bring his bride to King's Court early in the new year.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A YEAR had gone since Uncle Bernard's death, and Norman and I were looking forward to the coming Christmas season with happy anticipations.
