used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
speak to
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
(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 He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
AndersonnounUS /ˈændərsən/
United States author whose works were frequently autobiographical (1876-1941)
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
BanffnounUS /bænf/
a popular vacation spot in the Canadian Rockies
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
campsnounUS /kæmps/
plural of “camp” — temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
commissionsnounUS /kəˈmɪʃənz/
plural of “commission” — a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
Delaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
despatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
Elizabeth'snounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθs/
possessive form of “elizabeth” — daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
glaciernounUS /ˈɡleɪʃər/
a slowly moving mass of ice
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
interfused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
IrishmannounUS /ˈaɪrɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of Ireland
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
jobsnounUS /dʒɑːbz/
plural of “job” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
Laggan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
the force of workers available
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
not divisible by two
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
railwaynounUS /ˈreɪlweɪ/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
on the contrary
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
snow-field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He first of all despatched a message to Banff for Elizabeth's commissions.
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Then he made straight for the ugly frame house of which Delaine had given him the address.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
at the time that
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
which person or people
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was dark when Anderson reached Laggan, if that can be called darkness which was rather a starry twilight, interfused with the whiteness of snow-field and glacier.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was kept by a couple well known to him, an Irishman and his wife who made their living partly by odd jobs on the railway, partly by lodging men in search of work in the various construction camps of the line.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading To all such persons Anderson was a familiar figure, especially since the great strike of the year before.
