used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
AloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
compilationnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈleɪʃən/
something that is compiled (as into a single book or file)
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
copiousadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊpiəs/
large in number or quantity (especially of discourse)
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
dolorously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
set up or found
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
an established custom
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
pastornounUS /ˈpæstər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
researchesnounUS /riˈsɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “research” — systematic investigation to establish facts
From this reading Alone in the morning he made his researches and his copious notes for his compilation.
sermonsnounUS /ˈsɜːrmənz/
plural of “sermon” — an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
for a short time
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
at the time that
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She found him one night, shortly before Christmas, sitting dolorously before his table covered with papers, while an unusual cloud overshadowed his face.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
the act of creating written works
From this reading In the evening he talked over with his wife the subject in hand, before the work of writing really began.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading The pastor had fallen into the pleasant habit of having his wife with him when he wrote his sermons.
