used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
Benson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
Cheatham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
CLUEnounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
contriteadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪt/
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
FILMnounUS /fɪlm/
a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
illegibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈledʒəbəl/
(of handwriting, print, etc.) not legible
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
Josie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
engage in
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
not any; not one
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
shakyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪki/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Josie felt justified in reading it, in order that she might get all the light possible on the doings of Cheatham.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CLUE IN THE FILM The letter was from Uncle Bob Benson to Ursula.
at the time that
From this reading Uncle Ben was deeply contrite at having left his sister and her children when no doubt they needed him most.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
the act of creating written works
From this reading The writing was shaky and dim, with many words almost illegible, but Josie managed to make them out.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading It was a sad little letter, evidently written by a very sick man.
