used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
(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 "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
blithelyadverbUS /ˈblaɪθli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
causticadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstɪk/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
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 George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
being one more than seven
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
Haskins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
hummingnounUS /ˈhʌmɪŋ/
a humming noise
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Haskins.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
one of four equal parts
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
refrainedverbUS /rɪˈfreɪnd/
past form of “refrain” — resist doing something
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
express in words
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading Mrs. Haskins had it on the tip of her tongue to say something caustic, but refrained.
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading George Early came down to breakfast next morning half an hour after his usual time, blithely humming a tune.
watchmaker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Quarter past eight," said George, looking at the watchmaker's over the way.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Haskins.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I've done all I could to get you up in time.
