used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
anew
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
being joined in close association
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
a social unit living together
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a man of refinement
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
Leslie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
joined in matrimony
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
Melville's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
not any; not one
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
by chance
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
pettingnounUS /ˈpetɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
scoldingnounUS /ˈskoʊldɪŋ/
rebuking a person harshly
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading THE SISTERS.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SISTERS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had been long dead, but having never married again, he had remained much attached to her family, and having had no children of his own, he had always taken a deep interest in Mary and Ellen, petting them quite as much and perhaps scolding them a little more than their father.
Villars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day an old gentleman, a Mr. Villars, dined at Mr. Melville's.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Villars was a widower.
widowernounUS /ˈwɪdoʊər/
a man whose wife is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading Mr. Villars was a widower.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His wife had been a sister of Mrs. Leslie, the mother of Mary and Ellen.
