used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
anew
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
(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 When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
DecaturnounUS /dɪˈkeɪtər/
United States naval officer remembered for his heroic deeds (1779-1820)
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
deucenounUS /duːs/
a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
From this reading “The deuce take Mabel!”
cause to move by pulling
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
set up or found
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
insistencenounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪstəns/
continual and persistent demands
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
immediately past
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The deuce take Mabel!”
not any; not one
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
noticesnounUS /ˈnoʊtəsəz/
plural of “notice” — an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
on one occasion
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
only a very short time before
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
that is looked for
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
caught or fixed
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
carry out
From this reading “The deuce take Mabel!”
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The deuce take Mabel!”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
in the direction of
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
TrespassingadjectiveUS /ˈtrespæsɪŋ/
gradually intrusive without right or permission
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
at the time that
From this reading When they returned to the hotel, Decatur felt scarcely better acquainted with her than before he had found her again.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The intimate and personal ground of conversation towards which he sought to draw her she avoided as carefully as if it had been stuck with the “No Trespassing” notices.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But it was not the kind of a talk he had hoped to have with Jane Temple.
yieldingadjectiveUS /ˈjiːldɪŋ/
inclined to yield to argument or influence or control
From this reading He half smothered the exclamation, and Jane appeared not to hear, yielding at last to his insistence that they start at once.
