used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING SUMMONS.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
consider or hold as true
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
encampmentnounUS /ɪnˈkæmpmɪnt/
a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
promote over another
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
insureverbUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
JaspernounUS /ˈdʒæspər/
an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
Monima's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
and nothing more
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
partakeverbUS /pɑːrˈteɪk/
have some of the qualities or attributes of something
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
repastnoun
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING SUMMONS.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
SUMMONSnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading A STARTLING SUMMONS.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
tentsnounUS /tents/
plural of “tent” — a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After the repast a pipe was offered him, but this he declined, explaining that he never had learned to smoke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Indian encampment was only half a mile away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
which person or people
From this reading Monima's favor was sufficient to insure a cordial reception to Jasper, who was pressed to partake of supper, an offer he was glad to accept, for it was now seven hours since he had eaten food.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading There were assembled about fifty persons, men, women, and children, lying on the grass about the tents.
