used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a characteristic composition.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
any thing at all
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
the two together, not just one
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
lacking funds
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading It was a characteristic composition.
rid of obstructions
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
clerkly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading It was a characteristic composition.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
having made preparations
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
familiaritynounUS /fəˌmɪˈljerəti/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
Hammond's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
HuntsnounUS /hʌnts/
plural of “hunt” — Englishman and Pre-Raphaelite painter (1827-1910)
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
impliedverbUS /ˌɪmˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “imply” — express or state indirectly
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
missivenounUS /ˈmɪsɪv/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
modestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
offencenoun
the action of attacking an enemy
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
penmanshipnoun
beautiful handwriting
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
privacynounUS /ˈpraɪvəsi/
the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
sealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading In the privacy of her chamber, she broke the seal and read her first love letter.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
singularitynounUS /ˈsɪŋɡjəˈlerəti/
the quality of being one of a kind
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
move stealthily
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
carry out
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was at the close of an evening party which both the Hunts attended, and where Mr. Hammond's devotion was as marked as anything so modest could be, that Sarah felt him slip an envelope into her hand, as he put her into the carriage.
someone who sees an event and reports what happened
From this reading If the strong hand had trembled above the lines, the clear, clerkly penmanship did not witness to the weakness.
but in spite of that
From this reading Surprised as she was at the singularity of the occurrence, and disposed to take offence at the familiarity it implied, she had yet the presence of mind to conceal the missive from Lucy, and talk about other things, until they were set down at home.
