used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But he was very restless and wretched in spite of all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
backgammonnounUS /ˈbækɡæmən/
a board game for two players; pieces move according to throws of the dice
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
Chatteris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
a person who is in charge
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
Fair-Oaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
Fotheringay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
set up or found
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
hear with intention
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
neighbournounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
Portman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
worried and uneasy
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
cut with a saw
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading But he was very restless and wretched in spite of all.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
unhappinessnounUS /ənˈhæpinɪs/
emotions experienced when not in a state of well-being
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
uninterestingadjectiveUS /əˈnɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
precisely as stated
From this reading But he was very restless and wretched in spite of all.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His uncle wanted him to travel, and his mother urged him, too, for he was in a state of restless unhappiness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever Miss Fotheringay acted, he rode over to the Chatteris theatre and saw her; and between times found the life at Fair-Oaks extremely dreary and uninteresting.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He sometimes played backgammon with his mother, or took dinner with Dr. Portman or some other neighbour; these were the chief of his pleasures; or he would listen to his mother's simple music of summer evenings.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he said point blank he would not go, and his mother was too fond, and his uncle too wise, to force him.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading But he was very restless and wretched in spite of all.
