used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
anew
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NIGEL AND MARY Nigel rushed back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading NIGEL AND MARY Nigel rushed back.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
for the most part
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
recognizable; marked
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
accept an excuse for
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
set up or found
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
a message received and understood
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading NIGEL AND MARY Nigel rushed back.
come together
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
NIGEL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGEL AND MARY Nigel rushed back.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
and nothing more
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
optimistnounUS /ˈɑːptəmɪst/
a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
PercynounUS /ˈpɜːrsi/
United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
precisely, exactly
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
done under pressure
From this reading NIGEL AND MARY Nigel rushed back.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
not in physical motion
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Still, if Percy had not given him that piece of information, he would have remained in London, and left it to chance that they might meet again somehow.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading If the husband had only known it, Bertha had already, if not exactly forbidden him the house, discouraged his calling, almost as distinctly, though more kindly, than Percy did.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
in or at the place that
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was such an optimist, and was really so very much in love with her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading On his way, he decided that he had got a real excuse for a holiday; he had every right to go away for a time from such a wife; and he found himself thinking chiefly about where he would go and how he would amuse himself.
