used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
ardentlyadverbUS /ˈɑːrdəntli/
in an ardent manner
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
BETROTHALnoun
a mutual promise to marry
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
terminate
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
wanted intensely
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
GardinernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdnər/
British historian remembered for his ten-volume history of England (1829-1902)
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
the act of departing
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
hatefuladjectiveUS /ˈheɪtfəl/
evoking or deserving hatred
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
JaynounUS /dʒeɪ/
United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
on one occasion
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
and nothing more
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The following day he put his plan into execution.
reception-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
SallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The thought was like an inspiration to Jay Gardiner.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "SHALL WE BREAK THIS BETROTHAL, THAT WAS MADE ONLY IN FUN?"
at the time that
From this reading It was early in the afternoon when he entered the hotel, and going at once to the reception-room, he sent up his card.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would go to Sally and ask her to break this hateful engagement; and surely she would be too proud to hold him to a betrothal from which he so ardently desired to be set free.
