used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
adventnounUS /ˈædvent/
arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
(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 They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
appearingnounUS /əˈpɪrɪŋ/
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
captivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkæptɪveɪtɪd/
strongly attracted
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He was certainly very pretty.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
congregationnounUS /ˌkɑːŋɡrəˈɡeɪʃən/
a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
Cordis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
discomposedadjective
having your composure disturbed
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
drug-store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
faireradjectiveUS /ˈferər/
comparative of “fair” — free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
flatteredverbUS /ˈflætərd/
past form of “flatter” — praise somewhat dishonestly
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
HarrisonnounUS /ˈherɪsən/
English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
Newville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
on the contrary
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading They all agreed that he was awfully handsome, though Laura maintained that he was rather too pretty for a man.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was certainly very pretty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
(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 Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Harrison Cordis, the new clerk in the drug-store, might well have been flattered by the attention which he excited at church the next day, especially from the fairer half of the congregation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Far, however, from appearing discomposed thereby, he returned it with such interest that at least half the girls thought they had captivated him by the end of the morning service.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The advent of a stranger was an event of importance in the small social world of Newville.
