used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
Arthur'snounUS /ˈɑːrθərz/
possessive form of “arthur” — elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
BOY'SnounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
a young person of either sex
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Milligan.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
kidnapedverbUS /ˈkɪdnæpt/
past form of “kidnap” — take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
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 She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
engage in
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
Milligan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Milligan.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Milligan.
of an obscure nature
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Milligan.
absolutely essential
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
and nothing more
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
searchesnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪz/
plural of “search” — the activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
a male human offspring
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
required or under orders
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
a just detectable amount
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It is true that, at the time he was taken, Mrs. Milligan had not been able to make the necessary searches.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ANOTHER BOY'S MOTHER Arthur's mother was English.
at the time that
From this reading When the child was six months old it had been kidnaped, and they had never been able to find any trace of him.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading She was a widow, and Arthur was her only son; at least, it was supposed that he was her only son living, for she had lost an elder child under mysterious conditions.
