used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
brought into existence
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
idolatrynounUS /aɪˈdɑːlətri/
the worship of idols; the worship of physical objects or images as gods
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
idoliseverb
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
Jocelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
the act of departing
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
Ley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
and nothing more
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
on the contrary
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
for a short time
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
the season of growth
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
well-bredadjective
of good upbringing
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
at the time that
From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
in or at the place that
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
which person or people
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
wintersnounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
plural of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
