Chapter XXIX · The Letter

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

immediately past

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the literary culture

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a state in southeastern India on the Bay of Bengal (south of Andhra Pradesh); formerly Madras

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

a form of address for a man

From this reading “MR.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading AND MRS.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

receiving deferential regard

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

a male human offspring

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

up to a particular time

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

precisely as stated

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

an act of traveling by water

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

in or at the place that

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

which person or people

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

belonging to which person

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

in the company of; together with

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work

From this reading Since that time nothing had been heard from Phil, until the young man whose name was William Mather, wrote from Madras, as follows:

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Phil’s last letter had been addressed to his mother from Rome, and in it he had written that he was to start for India the next day with a young man whose acquaintance he had made on the voyage from New York to Havre, and who had persuaded him to go for a week or two to Madras, where his father was living.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ROSSITER:—_Respected Friends_: I do not think I am an entire stranger to you, for I am very sure your son Philip wrote of me to you in some of his letters.