used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
CairnsnounUS /kernz/
plural of “cairn” — a mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
drawlnounUS /drɔːl/
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
FORBIDDENadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
Leslie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
Monroe'snounUS /mənˈroʊz/
possessive form of “monroe” — United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
a brief written record
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
by chance
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
in the near future
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Doris Monroe’s indifferent drawl was not in evidence as she answered the telephone.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading She was surprised and more pleased than she had thought she could possibly be to hear Leslie Cairns’ voice on the wire.
showing curiosity
From this reading I’d been wondering why you hadn’t answered my letter.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A RETURN TO A FORBIDDEN LAND “Leslie, is it really you?
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I wrote you soon after I received your note.”
