used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
ailingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪlɪŋ/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
(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 A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
Bertrand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
couriernounUS /ˈkɜːriər/
a person who carries a message
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
true confidential information
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
divisible by two
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
every person
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
forty-eightadjective
being eight more than forty
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
the act of giving
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
InnocentsnounUS /ˈɪnəsənts/
plural of “innocent” — a person who lacks knowledge of evil
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
mistralnounUS /ˈmɪstrəl/
a strong north wind that blows in France during the winter
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
Mont-Pahon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
information about recent and important events
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
reassuringadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋ/
restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
lacking in magnitude or quantity
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
carry out
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
unmercifullyadverb
without pity; in a merciless manner
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Snow had fallen, and the mistral had blown for forty-eight hours unmercifully down the valley.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading News from Paris had been scanty, but such as they were, they were reassuring.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The letter had been written on the day following her death, which had come as a great shock to everybody, even though she had been constantly ailing of late.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It was fourteen days after the New Year.
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading A courier had come over all the way from Paris on New Year’s eve, with a letter from Bertrand, giving a few details of the proposed arrangements for Madame de Mont-Pahon’s funeral, which was to take place on the feast of the Holy Innocents.
