used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
ambiguousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪɡjuːəs/
open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance; or (often) intended to mislead
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
any thing at all
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE.
clergymannounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒimən/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE.
Comfort's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
a small house with a single story
From this reading COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
set up or found
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
not accessible to view
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
Luke'snounUS /luːks/
possessive form of “luke” — (New Testament) the Apostle closely associated with St. Paul and traditionally assumed to be the author of the third Gospel
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
not any; not one
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
occasionedverbUS /əˈkeɪʒənd/
past form of “occasion” — give occasion to
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
RaynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
precisely as stated
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Mrs. Ray, in her trouble occasioned by Luke's letter, had walked up to Mr. Comfort's house, but had not found him at home.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Almost any other woman would have half hidden her real meaning under a cloud of ambiguous words; but with her there was no question of hiding anything from her clergyman.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Therefore she had written to him, in his own study, a few very simple words, telling the matter on which she wanted his advice.
