used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
a special loved one
From this reading Please don’t be frightened, darling.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
someone who is a detective
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Please don’t be frightened, darling.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
made afraid
From this reading Please don’t be frightened, darling.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
and nothing more
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Please don’t be frightened, darling.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
express in words
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the morning post Barbara received a letter from Dick.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
precisely as stated
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was short, and its contents were startling.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading “DEAREST BARBARA” (he wrote),—“Something very bad has happened.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I dare not and will not tell you what it is, but it is just possible that I shall be obliged to remain in town for a day or two.
