used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
dissipationnounUS /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
breaking up and scattering by dispersion
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
feverishadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərɪʃ/
marked by intense agitation or emotion
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
set up or found
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
many times at short intervals
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
Horstwyk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
Josine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
set down according to a plan
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
immediately past
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
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 It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
MAID'SnounUS /meɪdz/
possessive form of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
minister'snounUS /ˈmɪnɪstərz/
possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
Mopius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
night'snounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
Otto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
ParsonagenounUS /ˈpɑːrsənɪdʒ/
an official residence provided by a church for its parson or vicar or rector
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
praisesnounUS /ˈpreɪzəz/
plural of “praise” — an expression of approval and commendation
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
statedadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtɪd/
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had found the letter on her return from last night’s dissipation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
Ursula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
(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 “I have had a letter from father, and Aunt Josine seems far from well.”
which person or people
From this reading It was a long and affectionate letter, full of praises of Otto, who came frequently to the Parsonage, enjoying the quiet strength of the minister’s talk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The letter certainly stated that Miss Mopius had been laid up with a feverish cold.
an affirmative
From this reading “AN OLD MAID’S LOVE” “Yes, uncle, I should like to go back to Horstwyk to-day,” Ursula was saying at breakfast.
