used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
addingverbUS /ˈædɪŋ/
-ing form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
calfnounUS /kæf/
young of domestic cattle
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
ClivenounUS /klaɪv/
British general and statesman whose victory at Plassey in 1757 strengthened British control of India (1725-1774)
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
at any time
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
fatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
only a very short time before
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
LancasternounUS /ˈlænkæstər/
a city in northwestern England
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Whom have you staying with you?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
veiledadjectiveUS /veɪld/
having or as if having a veil or concealing cover
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
precisely as stated
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lady Lancaster was pleased to be very gracious indeed to her returned nephew.
(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 "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whom have you staying with you?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Hardly ever," he replied, with a laugh, adding, with veiled anxiety: "I hear that you have killed the fatted calf in my honor, Aunt Lydia.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Ah, you are as big and handsome as ever, Clive!" she said, "and well, of course.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I believe you never were sick in your life?"
