used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
benevolentadjectiveUS /bəˈnevələnt/
intending or showing kindness
From this reading But his benevolent expression reassured her.
the two together, not just one
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his benevolent expression reassured her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
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 She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading But his benevolent expression reassured her.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
FishernounUS /ˈfɪʃər/
someone whose occupation is catching fish
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
Florence'snounUS /ˈflɔːrənsɪz/
possessive form of “florence” — a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
Hibbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
intrudingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdɪŋ/
projecting inward
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
in order that something should not happen
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
a particular point in time
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
yielding a fair profit
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
reassuredadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrd/
having confidence restored; freed from anxiety
From this reading But his benevolent expression reassured her.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading “My visit is almost a business one, if I may venture to call it so, and I hope its result may be pleasant to us both.”
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was surprised at his paying her so early a visit, and for a moment feared lest it should mean bad news from Walter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Florence’s speculations concerning Aunt Anne were brought to an end by the arrival of Mr. Fisher.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I hope you will forgive my intruding on you at this hour, Mrs. Hibbert,” he said.
