used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
in actual fact
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
alterverbUS /ˈɔːltər/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
brother-in-lawnounUS /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/
a brother by marriage
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
yet to be or coming
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
ghastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
destroyed or killed
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
Ida's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
of the present time and place
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
JimmyverbUS /ˈdʒɪmi/
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
Lalage's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
loannounUS /loʊn/
the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
used to form the superlative
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jimmy heaved a sigh of relief as he read the telegram.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He had intended asking his brother-in-law for a loan, and it was a load off his mind to find that Joseph was actually in town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It did not alter the essential fact that everything had gone to pieces--nothing could alter that--but it made matters less complicated so far as Lalage's immediate future was concerned.
in or at the place that
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A letter might, probably would, have fallen into Ida's hands, and this was one of those cases where an interview was better than many pages of explanations.
a late time of life
From this reading In after years, he looked back on it as the one ray of brightness in the most ghastly day of his life.
