used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There had been difficulties—there always are.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There had been difficulties—there always are.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been difficulties—there always are.
confined by bonds
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
coincidencenounUS /koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
collectingnounUS /kəˈlektɪŋ/
the act of gathering something together
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
Denry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading There had been difficulties—there always are.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
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 I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
Earp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
existsverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪsts/
third-person singular of “exist” — have an existence, be extant
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been difficulties—there always are.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
used to form the superlative
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
many times at short intervals
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
by chance
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
an amount of time
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
rentsnounUS /rents/
plural of “rent” — a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or service
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
resortnounUS /rɪˈzɔːrt/
a hotel located in a resort area
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
Identical; not different.
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
seasidenounUS /ˈsiːsaɪd/
the shore of a sea or ocean regarded as a resort
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
thereofadverbUS /ˌðeˈrʌv/
of or concerning this or that
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thus it happened to Denry and to Ruth Earp.
TownsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
weeklynounUS /ˈwiːkli/
a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)
From this reading A business man who lives by collecting weekly rents obviously cannot go away for an indefinite period.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
which person or people
From this reading I In the Five Towns, and perhaps elsewhere, there exists a custom in virtue of which a couple who have become engaged in the early summer find themselves by a most curious coincidence at the same seaside resort, and often in the same street thereof, during August.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading And a young woman who lives alone in the world is bound to respect public opinion.
