used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
any person at all
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Who can it be?" said Mrs. Harding.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Who can it be?" said Mrs. Harding.
the process of giving careful thought to something
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
being one more than ten
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
forenoonnoun
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Who can it be?" said Mrs. Harding.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
set down according to a plan
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
of an obscure nature
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
not any; not one
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
no person; not anyone
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/
(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
reluctantlyadverbUS /rɪˈlʌktəntli/
with reluctance
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Who can it be?" said Mrs. Harding.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Nobody seems to have any consideration for anybody else.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "People have no business to call at such an hour in the morning," grumbled Rachel, as she laid down her knitting reluctantly, and rose from her seat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
someone who visits
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
at the time that
From this reading A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR About eleven o'clock one forenoon Mrs. Harding was in the kitchen, busily engaged in preparing the dinner, when a loud knock was heard at the front door.
which person or people
From this reading "Who can it be?" said Mrs. Harding.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Aunt Rachel, there's somebody at the door; won't you be kind enough to see who it is?"
