used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LETTER AT LAST.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christmas had come and gone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A LETTER AT LAST.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Christmas had come and gone.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Christmas had come and gone.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
Geoff's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Christmas had come and gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Christmas had come and gone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
home-sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
Jeffreys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
immediately past
From this reading A LETTER AT LAST.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A LETTER AT LAST.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
not any; not one
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
postmannounUS /ˈpoʊstmən/
a man who delivers the mail
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
timidlyadverbUS /ˈtɪmədli/
in a shy or timid or bashful manner
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
twenty-fifthadjective
coming next after the twenty-fourth in position
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
unbearableadjectiveUS /ənˈberəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It brought Geoff's home-sick loneliness to a point that was almost unbearable.
waylayverbUS /ˈweɪleɪ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading And for two or three days he managed to waylay the postman every morning as he passed the farm, and to inquire timidly if there were no letter--was he _sure_ there was no letter for James Jeffreys?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had looked forward vaguely to the twenty-fifth of December with the sort of hope that it would bring him some message, some remembrance, if it were but a Christmas card.
