used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
ArmstrongnounUS /ˈɑːrmstrɑːŋ/
United States astronaut; the first man to set foot on the Moon (July 20, 1969) (1930-)
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
the two together, not just one
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/
The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
destinedadjectiveUS /ˈdestɪnd/
headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
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 One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
Halford's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
a room where books are kept
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
used to form the superlative
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
information about recent and important events
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
not any; not one
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
on one occasion
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY.
unlooked-foradjective
not anticipated
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever impression might have been made by Mr. Henry Halford's cleverness on the mind of Mary Armstrong was destined to be obliterated by the most unlooked-for occurrence.
in or at the place that
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading "No, no," he said hastily, "but I have had a letter from John Armstrong; my poor father, he says, is sinking fast, and wishes to see me once more."
in the company of; together with
From this reading One evening, about a fortnight after Easter, Mr. Armstrong returned at an unusually early hour, and entered the library, where Mary and her mother were seated, with a look of anxiety on his face which surprised them both.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He held a letter in his hand, and his wife asked nervously-- "What is the matter, Edward? you have no bad news about the boys, I hope."
