used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not know why she promised.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
divisible by two
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She did not know why she promised.
the sound of laughing
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
the act of departing
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
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 They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
persuadeverbUS /pərˈsweɪd/
win approval or support for
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
in the near future
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading She did not know why she promised.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
regretfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈɡretfəl/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
sauntered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Even after rising from her chair she lingered as if regretful to go, but they could not persuade her to stay and have tea with them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
unpackingverbUS /ənˈpækɪŋ/
-ing form of “unpack” — remove from its packing
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was too hot, she must rest a little, she had unpacking to do.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They sat talking for close on two hours, and at the end of that time April rose with a laugh on her lips and many a light and airy reason why she could not stay.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Presently she sauntered off slowly, leaving a promise that she would dine with them that evening.
