used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
answersnounUS /ˈænsərz/
plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
without stop or interruption
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
correspondentsnounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndənts/
plural of “correspondent” — someone who communicates by means of letters
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
destroyed or killed
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
the literary culture
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
McAllister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
post-office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading Helen had a number of letters to mail, her correspondents being active and her answers prompt.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
an educational institution
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
term of address for a man
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He's home from school," she continued the conversation and failed to give Sir Robert another thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few weeks after her arrival, Helen and Mary were walking to the post-office.
at the time that
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
which person or people
From this reading Mary gave him a look to see who it was, and after saying to Helen, "This is Bob McAllister--one of our neighbours.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading They hadn't gone far when a young man appeared in the distance, approaching them.
