used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
Alfred's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
for the reason that
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
breakfast-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
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 belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
usually; as a rule
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
a man of refinement
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
HEMANS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
and nothing more
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading LITTLE WILLIAM.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
not any; not one
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
Penrose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
cut with a saw
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Forget her not! though now her name Be but a mournful sound.—HEMANS.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
precisely as stated
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
in or at the place that
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
which person or people
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
WILLIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LITTLE WILLIAM.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading It belonged to a friend of Mr. Penrose, who wished to see him on some business; and Mr. Penrose had chosen the early part of the day for the visit, because he was generally much engaged at other times.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Alfred saw that the gentleman looked very serious; and that no lady sat down to the breakfast-table with them.
the words that are spoken
From this reading JUST as Alfred’s papa had finished saying these words they reached the gate of the house where they were to breakfast.
