used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
charmsnounUS /tʃɑːrmz/
plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
detainverbUS /dɪˈteɪn/
deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
Dundee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
Dunlap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
exclusivelyadverbUS /ɪkˈskluːsɪvli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
filingnounUS /ˈfaɪlɪŋ/
the entering of a legal document into the public record
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
Hammond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
go away from a place
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
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 "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
used to form the superlative
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
Nita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
on one occasion
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
PennynounUS /ˈpeni/
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
an amount of time
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
on the contrary
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
referencenounUS /ˈrefərəns/
a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
Selim's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
succumbedverbUS /səˈkʌmd/
past form of “succumb” — consent reluctantly
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are really too much of a handful for the governess, over a period of hours."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Lois Dunlap asked, as she advanced toward him.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
which person or people
From this reading And Ralph Hammond was the man who had once belonged rather exclusively to Penny, and who, according to her own confession, had succumbed most completely to Nita Selim's charms!--Dundee noted, filing the reflection for further reference.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Please, Mr. Dundee, won't you detain us as short a time as possible?"
youngstersnounUS /ˈjʌŋstərz/
plural of “youngster” — a young person of either sex
From this reading "Mr. Dunlap is away on a fishing trip, and I don't like to leave my three youngsters too long.
