used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
(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 There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
ANDREW'SnounUS /ˈændruːz/
possessive form of “andrew” — (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading ANDREW'S HOPE.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
Brackenburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
the first light of day
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
distractverbUS /dɪˈstrækt/
draw someone's attention away from something
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
make void or empty of contents
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
apart from; not including
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
expansenounUS /ɪkˈspæns/
a wide scope
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
destroyed or killed
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
homesicknessnounUS /ˈhoʊmsɪknəs/
a longing to return home
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading ANDREW'S HOPE.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
intolerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
Martin'snounUS /ˈmɑːrtənz/
possessive form of “martin” — French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
moorlandnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
moorsnounUS /mʊrz/
plural of “moor” — one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
not any; not one
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
separationnounUS /ˌsepərˈeɪʃən/
the state of lacking unity
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
express in speech
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
tutorverbUS /ˈtuːtər/
be a tutor to someone; give individual instruction
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
uncontrollablyadverbUS /ˌʌnkənˈtroʊləbli/
in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
uncouthadjectiveUS /ˈʌnˈkuːθ/
lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sense of loneliness and separation became intolerable to Martin after Dorothy was gone.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
which person or people
From this reading The homesickness, if it could be called so in one who had never had a home, made him uncontrollably restless.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was not in all this vast expanse of moorland an object that could distract his brooding memory, and in the old house, with its now empty rooms, there was no one who could speak in his own language except the tutor, a kindly man enough, but with no special interest in his uncouth charge.
the day immediately before today
From this reading A few weeks after Margaret and Dorothy left Brackenburn, a telegram reached Sidney in town from Martin's tutor: "Martin lost since dawn yesterday; searching moors."
