used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
anew
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading They could not believe it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could not believe it.
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 Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
Edith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
Franklin'snounUS /ˈfræŋklənz/
possessive form of “franklin” — United States historian noted for studies of Black American history (born in 1915)
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They could not believe it.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
take in marriage
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
not one, and not any
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They could not believe it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Mr. Franklin's announcement at first almost stunned his children.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could not believe it.
thunderboltnounUS /ˈθʌndərbɔːlt/
a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Edith it came like a thunderbolt.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
at the time that
From this reading Jack and Cynthia were somewhat prepared for it, it is true, but when they heard the news from their father's own lips it was none the less startling.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had never had the smallest suspicion that her father would marry again.
