the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
Farwell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
Kerr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
immediately past
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
and nothing more
From this reading To-day was only Wednesday.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
the time that has elapsed
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
Petra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
in a strange manner
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
TeresanounUS /tərˈiːsə/
Indian nun and missionary in the Roman Catholic Church (born of Albanian parents in what is now Macedonia); dedicated to helping the poor in India (1910-1997)
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
To-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day was only Wednesday.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
unconscionably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Three days, then, to go until he should see Petra.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading It seemed an unconscionably long time to wait.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To-day was only Wednesday.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading To-day was only Wednesday.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
which person or people
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He turned sharply around, as if startled away from the window by astonishment at himself for this strangely belated impatience.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
a late time of life
From this reading But why, then, had he let three years go past without inquiring from Cynthia, or the dozen other people who could certainly have told him, what had become of Petra since Farwell’s last marriage, and who was Teresa Kerr?
