used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
(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 “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/
Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading “What do you mean?” demanded Jane.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What do you mean?” demanded Jane.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
indignantlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnəntliː/
in an indignant manner
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
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 “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “What do you mean?” demanded Jane.
MEASLESnounUS /ˈmiːzəlz/
an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
express in words
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
express in speech
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
SYMPTOMSnounUS /ˈsɪmptəmz/
plural of “symptom” — (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES “Jane,” said Christopher to his sister three days later, “a week is an awfully short time.”
(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 “Well, it’s a short time when it’s all we’ve got left of staying here, isn’t it?” retorted Christopher.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What do you mean?” demanded Jane.
at the time that
From this reading She knew that when Christopher began to speak in that tone he had, something in particular to say.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I mean that in a week mother and father will be here and——” “A week isn’t a short time to wait to see them when we haven’t seen them for a long, long summer,” interrupted Jane indignantly.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What do you mean?” demanded Jane.
