used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
aunt'snounUS /ænts/
possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
caringnounUS /ˈkerɪŋ/
a loving feeling
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
Christabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
DiananounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
distastenounUS /dɪˈsteɪst/
a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
faireradjectiveUS /ˈferər/
comparative of “fair” — free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
firelightnoun
the light of a fire (especially in a fireplace)
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
kneelingnounUS /ˈniːlɪŋ/
supporting yourself on your knees
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
held up in the air
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
lovinglyadverbUS /ˈlʌvɪŋli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
not any; not one
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
oft-told
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
recurring again and again
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
ruddyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌdi/
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DAYS THAT ARE NO MORE.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
arousing affect
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
Tregonell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was listening to an oft-told tale, kneeling in the firelight, at her aunt's knee, the ruddy glow tenderly touching her fair soft hair and fairer forehead, her big blue eyes lifted lovingly to Mrs. Tregonell's face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
which person or people
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
widowernounUS /ˈwɪdoʊər/
a man whose wife is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading "And he was a widower," said Christabel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "And he was a widower, Aunt Diana," she repeated, with an expression of distaste, as if something had set her teeth on edge.
showing curiosity
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I cannot help wondering that you could care for a widower--a man who had begun life by caring for somebody else."
