used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
anew
From this reading By eight o’clock he was again at Churton.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By eight o’clock he was again at Churton.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
Churton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By eight o’clock he was again at Churton.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
cross-countryadverbUS /ˈkrɔːskʌntri/
not following tracks or roads
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
being one more than seven
From this reading By eight o’clock he was again at Churton.
Elsmere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
Grey'snounUS /ɡreɪz/
possessive form of “grey” — United States writer of western adventure novels (1875-1939)
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
IsisnounUS /ˈaɪsəs/
Egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of Geb; sister and wife of Osiris
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
a form of address for a man
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading By eight o’clock he was again at Churton.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
pangnounUS /pæŋ/
a sudden sharp feeling
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
shrunkenadjectiveUS /ˈʃrʌŋkən/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
spiresnounUS /spaɪrz/
plural of “spire” — a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
towersnounUS /ˈtaʊərz/
plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
create by training and teaching
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In half an hour from the time Mr. Grey’s door closed upon him, Elsmere had caught a convenient cross-country train, and had left the Oxford towers and spires, the shrunken summer Isis, and the flat, hot, river meadows far behind him.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
urgencynounUS /ˈɜːrdʒənsi/
the state of being urgent; an earnest and insistent necessity
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now, his one thought was to get back to Catherine.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He had meant to stay at Merton, as we know, for the night.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The urgency of Mr. Grey’s words was upon him, and love had a miserable pang that it should have needed to be urged.
