used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
matters of personal concern
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
Dolly'snounUS /ˈdɑːliz/
possessive form of “dolly” — conveyance consisting of a wheeled support on which a camera can be mounted
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
far-stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
fondnessnounUS /ˈfɑːndnəs/
a predisposition to like something
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
freshnessnounUS /ˈfreʃnəs/
the property of being pure and fresh (as if newly made); not stale or deteriorated
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
HORACEnounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
L'Hommedieu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
go away from a place
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
LiverpoolnounUS /ˈlɪvərpuːl/
a large city in northwestern England; its port is the country's major outlet for industrial exports
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
come together
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
moderateverbUS /ˈmɑːdərət/
preside over
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
not any; not one
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
by chance
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
Ruth'snounUS /ruːθs/
possessive form of “ruth” — United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
telegraphedverbUS /ˈteləɡræft/
past form of “telegraph” — send cables, wires, or telegrams
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
express in words
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
unexcitedadjective
not excited
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Diana, in her moderate, unexcited way, began to tell him what had happened.
at the time that
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When he reached the old house, to which his money had given a new freshness, there was no one to meet him but Dolly's Diana.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading HORACE CHASE, having by hard work arranged his far-stretching affairs so that he could leave them, reached L'Hommedieu late in the evening of the day of Ruth's flight.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had always been fond of the unexpected; this fondness would perhaps serve him now.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading He had not telegraphed that he was coming; his plan was to have his wife well on her way to New York and the Liverpool steamer almost before she knew it.
