used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
matters of personal concern
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading His sudden death was then no mystery.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
an act that fails
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
irretrievableadjective
impossible to recover or recoup or overcome
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
held up in the air
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading His sudden death was then no mystery.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
not any; not one
From this reading His sudden death was then no mystery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
on one occasion
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
Rothesay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
only a very short time before
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
speculationnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃən/
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading His sudden death was then no mystery.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading His sudden death was then no mystery.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There seemed lifted against him at once the hand of Heaven and of man.
tidingsnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading The newspaper had startled him with tidings--partly false, as afterwards appeared--of a heavy disaster by sea, and the failure of his latest speculation at home.
tombnounUS /tuːm/
a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
at the time that
From this reading The tomb had scarcely closed over Captain Rothesay, when it was discovered that his affairs were in a state of irretrievable confusion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For months he must have lived with ruin staring him in the face.
