used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
matters of personal concern
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
anew
From this reading But Peter would go out to India again and Hugo would not.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading What claim had she upon him?
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
creakedverbUS /kriːkt/
past form of “creak” — make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
ENCAMPverbUS /ɪnˈkæmp/
live in or as if in a tent
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
flapverbUS /flæp/
move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
gate-leg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But Peter would go out to India again and Hugo would not.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What claim had she upon him?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What claim had she upon him?
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
HugonounUS /ˈhjuːɡoʊ/
French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading But Peter would go out to India again and Hugo would not.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
Jan'snounUS /dʒænz/
possessive form of “jan” — the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
in motion
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Peter would go out to India again and Hugo would not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But Peter would go out to India again and Hugo would not.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
recurring again and again
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
respitenounUS /ˈrespɪt/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading What claim had she upon him?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading "THOUGH AN HOST SHOULD ENCAMP AGAINST ME" The flap of the gate-leg table creaked under Jan's weight, but she dug her heels into the rug and balanced, for she felt incapable of moving.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What claim had she upon him?
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading The whole miserable business would be repeated--and how could she continue to worry Peter with her affairs?
the least favorable outcome
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Peter was coming home; if the worst came to the worst he would deal with Hugo, and a respite would be gained.
