used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
the state of being absent
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
(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 Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
a youthful male person
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
breakfast-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
a small house with a single story
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
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 Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
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 He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
necessitiesnounUS /nəˈsesɪtiz/
plural of “necessity” — the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
negligentadjectiveUS /ˈneɡlədʒənt/
characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
not any; not one
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
by chance
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
premonitoryadjectiveUS /prəˈmʌnətəri/
warning of future misfortune
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He might be late, or he might have gone out; and he was not a boy to be long negligent of the necessities of nature.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The breakfast-table in the Cottage was as cheerful as usual next morning, and showed no premonitory shadow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And there were flowers on the table, and everything looked bright.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
Winnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Winnie did not come downstairs early; and perhaps it was all the more cheerful for her absence.
but in spite of that
From this reading Will was absent, it is true, but nobody took much notice of that as yet.
