used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
AlabasternounUS /ˈæləbæstər/
a compact fine-textured, usually white gypsum used for carving
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
(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 Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
Deerchase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
diplomacynounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/
negotiation between nations
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
factotumnoun
a servant employed to do a variety of jobs
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
Jaybirdnoun
common jay of eastern North America; bright blue with grey breast
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
Lightfoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
presumptionnounUS /prɪˈzʌmpʃən/
an assumption that is taken for granted
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
with speed
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
racingnounUS /ˈreɪsɪŋ/
the sport of engaging in contests of speed
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
satisfactorilyadverbUS /ˌsætɪˈsfæktrəli/
in a satisfactory manner
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
Skelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
the season of growth
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But he took the most intense interest in it, and the thought of paying Blair off for his folly and presumption was agreeable enough to him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
transactionnounUS /trænˈzækʃən/
the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities)
From this reading Skelton himself did not appear at all in the transaction; it was conducted solely between Miles Lightfoot, the factotum, and Blair himself.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
precisely as stated
From this reading The days passed on quickly enough at Deerchase, but not very satisfactorily.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading With superior judgment to Blair, Skelton did not by any means regard the match as settled; he preferred to wait until it was run.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Skelton took eagerly to the racing scheme, and, with a little diplomacy on each side, a match was arranged for the spring meeting between Jaybird and Alabaster.
