used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The spectacle was an irritating one.
any person at all
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
burying-ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
coarseadjectiveUS /kɔːrs/
of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
ConsequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
crosslyadverb
in an ill-natured manner
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
characterized by great determination
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
command with authority
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
fibrenounUS /ˈfaɪbər/
a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
set up or found
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
GillespienounUS /ɡəˈlespi/
United States jazz trumpeter and exponent of bebop (1917-1993)
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading The spectacle was an irritating one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
KennedynounUS /ˈkenədi/
35th President of the United States; established the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917-1963)
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
engage in
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
Marjory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The spectacle was an irritating one.
and nothing more
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
ReverendnounUS /ˈrevərənd/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
snubverbUS /snʌb/
refuse to acknowledge
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading The spectacle was an irritating one.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
tombstonenounUS /ˈtuːmstoʊn/
a stone that is used to mark a grave
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
tête-a-tête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Consequently, much to her disgust, she found him solemnly waiting for her on a tombstone in the old burying-ground.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The spectacle was an irritating one.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "You know quite well I didn't need--anyone."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Reverend James Gillespie had a certain coarse fibre in him, which made it only natural that the snub direct he had received from Dr. Kennedy should make him more determined than he had been before on a _tête-a-tête_ with Marjory.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why didn't you go down with the others?" she asked crossly.
