used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
absorptionnounUS /əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
(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 It was all working out very well.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
from appearances alone
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
set up or found
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
the act of departing
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
MontananounUS /mɑːnˈtænə/
a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading They were to move within a month.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were to move within a month.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
a brief written record
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was all working out very well.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
preoccupiedadjectiveUS /priˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
deeply absorbed in thought
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
renternounUS /ˈrentər/
someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
StuartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States painter best known for his portraits of George Washington (1755-1828)
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were to move within a month.
THIRTY-THREEadjective
being three more than thirty
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
precisely as stated
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Ruth was very quiet through the next week.
(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 It was all working out very well.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had found a renter for the ranch, the prospects for the venture in Montana were good.
at the time that
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Stuart was preoccupied with the plans he was making for going to Montana; when he talked with her it was of that, of arrangements to be made for it, and his own absorption apparently kept him from taking note of her being more quiet than usual, or different.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading They were to move within a month.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading It was all working out very well.
