used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
(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 “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
Bella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
Bella's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
Borisoff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
permission to do something
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
couchedverbUS /kaʊtʃt/
past form of “couch” — formulate in a particular style or language
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
divisible by two
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
set up or found
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
GalbraithnounUS /ˈɡælbreɪθ/
United States economist (born in Canada) who served as ambassador to India (born in 1908)
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
a young female
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
the act of departing
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
Hilton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
be the source of pain
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
a small worthless amount
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
immediately past
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
go away from a place
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
Marion's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
motherlessadjectiveUS /ˈmʌðərlɪs/
having no living or known mother
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading December did not bring Galbraith—nor even Bella.
odiousadjectiveUS /ˈoʊdiəs/
unequivocally detestable
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
the possibility of future success
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
express in words
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
shan't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
male cat
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cable was couched in the most alarming terms—there seemed to be every prospect of three little children being left motherless.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So Jack and I shan’t die, as we fully intended to if we were separated.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Just as the girl and her mother, early in the new year, were at last going home, a cable came from England to say that Bella’s sister, Mrs. Hilton, had been badly hurt in a carriage accident.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading “Jack found he couldn’t leave that odious Mr. Borisoff to settle up some business all alone, but my brother Tom has got mama to consent to stay over Christmas with me in New York at Marion’s.
