used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
abruptnessnounUS /əˈbrʌptnəs/
an abrupt discourteous manner
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
not being in a specified place
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading GONE AWAY.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
cupsnounUS /kʌps/
plural of “cup” — a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
a female human offspring
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
a young female
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
destroyed or killed
From this reading GONE AWAY.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
and nothing more
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
Lyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
McElwin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
musenounUS /mjuːz/
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
saucersnounUS /ˈsɔːsərz/
plural of “saucer” — something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
Staggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Lyman did not think to disguise his concern.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
totterverbUS /ˈtɑːtər/
move without being stable, as if threatening to fall
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why should the girl have gone away just at that particular time?
in the company of; together with
From this reading With an abruptness that made the cups totter in the saucers he shoved himself back from the table and fell into a deep muse.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A few days later, at the breakfast table, Mrs. Staggs remarked that Mrs. McElwin and her daughter were gone on a visit to friends and would be absent several weeks.
