used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
cause to be bored
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
DeafadjectiveUS /def/
lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
DumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
insureverbUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/
be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
ISLA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
JACOBnounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəb/
French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading LITTLE JACOB.
Jacob'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪkəbz/
possessive form of “jacob” — French biochemist who (with Jacques Monod) studied regulatory processes in cells (born in 1920)
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading LITTLE JACOB.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
mapverbUS /mæp/
make a map of; show or establish the features of details of
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
preachernounUS /ˈpriːtʃər/
someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
an educational institution
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading She had seen the preacher several times since that first interview, and they had talked much together.
a source of difficulty
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ISLA stood on the shore, with Jacob’s hand in hers, and watched the schooner which bore away her new friend.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading This kind woman had made a little map of the streets, so that Isla might find her way without trouble through the crowded city.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She held now in her hand a precious gift, a letter to the head of the Deaf and Dumb School, which, the preacher felt sure, would insure Jacob’s admission.
