used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
Bert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading SUCCESS COMES STRANGELY.
cordiallyadverbUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəli/
in a hearty manner
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
expensesnounUS /ɪkˈspensəz/
plural of “expense” — amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
extractverbUS /ˈekstrækt/
remove, usually with some force or effort; also used in an abstract sense
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
JacobnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
Lakeville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
Shelby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
in a strange manner
From this reading SUCCESS COMES STRANGELY.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading SUCCESS COMES STRANGELY.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
telegraphedverbUS /ˈteləɡræft/
past form of “telegraph” — send cables, wires, or telegrams
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
therefromadverb
from that circumstance or source
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
unnecessarilyadverbUS /ənˈnesəserəli/
in an unnecessary manner
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading His board bill was but six dollars a week, and he took care not to spend any money unnecessarily for outside expenses.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On his return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Shelby's boarding-house, and was cordially received.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading About the middle of the week he received a letter from Uncle Jacob, to whom he had telegraphed his movements.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading This is an extract therefrom: "You will be surprised to learn that your father is sick at Lakeville, under your mother's care.
