used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
accountantnounUS /əˈkaʊntənt/
someone who maintains and audits business accounts
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
callersnounUS /ˈkɔːlərz/
plural of “caller” — a social or business visitor
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/
showing lack of emotional involvement
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
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 "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
at any time
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
(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 violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
impersonaladjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrsənəl/
not relating to or responsive to individual persons
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
improvingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvɪŋ/
getting higher or more vigorous
From this reading Wally was still improving.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
engage in
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
senioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/
older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
in the near future
From this reading "I'll be over as soon as I've had dinner," said Mary, "but don't expect me early."
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
not in physical motion
From this reading Wally was still improving.
telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was hanging up the receiver when the senior accountant entered, a little more detached, a little more impersonal than she had ever seen him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
thunder-storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading A violent thunder-storm had arisen, but in spite of the lightning she telephoned Helen.
WallynounUS /ˈwɔːli/
a silly and inept person; someone who is regarded as stupid
From this reading Wally was still improving.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
at the time that
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The afternoon was well advanced when her callers left, and Mary had to make up her work as best she could.
