used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
AndersonnounUS /ˈændərsən/
United States author whose works were frequently autobiographical (1876-1941)
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The arrival of the newcomers halted the conversation.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
boyishlyadverb
like a boy
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The arrival of the newcomers halted the conversation.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
enthusiasticadjectiveUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
having or showing great excitement and interest
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
fianceenounUS /fiˈænsi/
a woman who is engaged to be married
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
gaylyadverb
in a joyous manner
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
grinnedverbUS /ɡrɪnd/
inflected form of “grin” — to draw back the lips and reveal the teeth, in a smile, grimace, or snarl
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading The arrival of the newcomers halted the conversation.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
inquiringlyadverb
in an inquiring manner
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
a form of address for a man
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
newcomersnounUS /ˈnuːkʌmərz/
plural of “newcomer” — any new participant in some activity
From this reading The arrival of the newcomers halted the conversation.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
Quinn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
not in physical motion
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A MERRY PARTY Dr. Anderson and Mr. Quinn were already in the dining room, having arrived a few minutes earlier.
at the time that
From this reading They were still busily talking when Aunt Madge and Mary Lee entered.
whereupon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The doctor looked toward his fiancee inquiringly, and she nodded gayly to him, whereupon he grinned boyishly at Mary Lee and she smiled back at him.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Mr. Quinn had completed his report of the work that had been done at the farm and was enthusiastic about the prospects for the coming summer and fall.
