used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
(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 The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
bombshellnounUS /ˈbɑːmʃel/
an entertainer who has a sensational effect
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
terminate
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
conferencenounUS /ˈkɑːnfərəns/
a prearranged meeting for consultation or exchange of information or discussion (especially one with a formal agenda)
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
well in the past; former
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "What did I tell ye?"
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "What did I tell ye?"
of the present time and place
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
JonahnounUS /ˈdʒoʊnə/
(Old Testament) Jonah did not wish to become a prophet so God caused a great storm to throw him overboard from a ship; he was saved by being swallowed by a whale that vomited him out onto dry land
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
immediately past
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
occurring by chance
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
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 The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
Orrin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
Pettys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
spongedverbUS /spʌndʒd/
past form of “sponge” — wipe with a sponge, so as to clean or moisten
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
express in words
From this reading "What did I tell ye?"
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
in or at that place or location
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
male cat
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
VEERINGnounUS /ˈvɪrɪŋ/
the act of turning aside suddenly
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Tom might well thank his lucky stars that Uncle Jonah Hand had thrown his bombshell.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What did I tell ye?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The surprise of it sponged from his mother's mind all immediate thought of his crime, which had been revealed during the last few minutes.
whineverbUS /waɪn/
move with a whining sound
From this reading "There!" was Orrin's whine, first to break the silence after Cap'n Jonah had departed.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading VEERING WINDS There never had been before as serious a conference between the three Pettys in that kitchen as this one.
an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person
From this reading "What did I tell ye?"
