used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
not being in a specified place
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
anew
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
chattyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæti/
full of trivial conversation
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
good-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
GreeleynounUS /ˈɡriːli/
United States journalist with political ambitions (1811-1872)
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
lapsedadjectiveUS /læpst/
no longer active or practicing
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
hear with intention
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
meditationsnounUS /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “meditation” — continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
a form of address for a man
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
a human being
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
plantationsnounUS /ˌplænˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
plantersnounUS /ˈplæntərz/
plural of “planter” — the owner or manager of a plantation
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
preachernounUS /ˈpriːtʃər/
someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
in the near future
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
refreshverbUS /rɪˈfreʃ/
refresh one's memory
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
and nothing more
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
in or at that place or location
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They said he was in the Islands for his health; was a preacher; his home, Michigan.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We stopped some time at one of the plantations, to rest ourselves and refresh the horses.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading The planters whispered us not to mind him--crazy.
which person or people
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We had a chatty conversation with several gentlemen present; but there was one person, a middle aged man, with an absent look in his face, who simply glanced up, gave us good-day and lapsed again into the meditations which our coming had interrupted.
wokeverbUS /woʊk/
inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They said that if he woke up presently and fell to talking about a correspondence which he had some time held with Mr. Greeley about a trifle of some kind, we must humor him and listen with interest; and we must humor his fancy that this correspondence was the talk of the world.
