used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
firearmsnounUS /ˈfaɪərɑːrmz/
plural of “firearm” — a portable gun
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
to a considerable degree
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
hour'snounUS /ˈaʊərz/
possessive form of “hour” — a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
kindestadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndəst/
superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
the act of departing
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
newlyadverbUS /ˈnuːli/
very recently
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
Osborn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
sobsnounUS /sɑːbz/
plural of “sob” — a dyspneic condition
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
suffocatingadjectiveUS /ˈsʌfəkeɪtɪŋ/
causing difficulty in breathing especially through lack of fresh air and presence of heat
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
unloadedadjectiveUS /ənˈloʊdɪd/
(of weapons) not charged with ammunition
From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
Walderhurst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
at the time that
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
which person or people
From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
writhingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
