used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
(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 Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
approveverbUS /əˈpruːv/
give sanction to
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
challengingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/
requiring full use of your abilities or resources
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
divisible by two
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
extendingverbUS /ɪkˈstendɪŋ/
-ing form of “extend” — extend in scope or range or area
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
yet to be or coming
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
Fyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fyne ignored this little remark.
Fynes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
ignoredadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːrd/
disregarded
From this reading Fyne ignored this little remark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
levitynounUS /ˈlevɪti/
feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fyne ignored this little remark.
mockinglyadverb
in a disrespectful jeering manner
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
the local environment
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
a human being
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
having a point
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
preposterousadjectiveUS /prɪˈpɑːstərəs/
so unreasonable as to invite derision
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
projectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/
communicate vividly
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
referencesnounUS /ˈrefərənsɪz/
plural of “reference” — a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Fyne ignored this little remark.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Fyne ignored this little remark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Other parts of the letter seemed to have a challenging tone--as if daring them (the Fynes) to approve her conduct.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading There was an unpleasant strain of levity in that letter, extending even to the references to Captain Anthony himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such a disposition was enough, his wife had pointed out to him, to alarm one for the future, had all the circumstances of that preposterous project been as satisfactory as in fact they were not.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading His wife, he said, was not the sort of person to be addressed mockingly on a serious subject.
