adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
COMESnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
containedadjectiveUS /kənˈteɪnd/
gotten under control
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
deliverynounUS /dɪˈlɪvəri/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
ferretingverbUS /ˈferətɪŋ/
-ing form of “ferret” — hound or harry relentlessly
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
Henshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
LETTERnounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
lettersnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
namedverbUS /neɪmd/
past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
namesakenounUS /ˈneɪmseɪk/
a person with the same name as another
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/
with neatness
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
Neilson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
nichenounUS /nɪtʃ/
a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
progenynounUS /ˈprɑːdʒəni/
the immediate descendants of a person
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
shocknounUS /ʃɑːk/
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
sixnounUS /sɪks/
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
STRATAnounUS /ˈstrætə/
plural of “stratum” — one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To say the least, the letter was a great shock to him.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading And this child, this “Billy,” this unknown progeny of an all but forgotten boyhood friend, was asking a home, and with him!
WalternounUS /ˈwɔːltər/
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He had not quite forgotten Billy's father, who had died so long ago, it is true, but he had forgotten Billy, entirely.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRATA--WHEN THE LETTER COMES It was on the six o'clock delivery that William Henshaw received the letter from his namesake, Billy.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Even as he looked at the disconcerting epistle with its round, neatly formed letters, he had great difficulty in ferreting out the particular niche in his memory which contained the fact that Walter Neilson had had a child, and had named it for him.
