used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
BERTHA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
commissionairenoun
a uniformed doorman
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
hintedverbUS /ˈhɪntəd/
past form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
involuntaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlənteri/
not subject to the control of the will
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
and nothing more
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She read the letter.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The commissionaire came into the room and handed her a letter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
not in physical motion
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
in the direction of
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
unfortunatelyadverbUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by bad luck
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
precisely as stated
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a knock at the door.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She tore open the envelope and with an involuntary movement, so as to conceal the expression on her features from the stranger, she turned towards the window.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "MY DEAREST BERTHA, "It is very good of you still to give me a choice between the next few days but, as indeed I have already hinted to you in my former letter, it is, unfortunately, absolutely impossible for me to do just as I like during that time.
