used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
anew
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
being joined in close association
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
Elena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
the act of departing
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
Iona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
the literary culture
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
the time between one event, process, or period and another
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
SalvadornounUS /ˈsælvədɔːr/
a republic on the Pacific coast of Central America
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
carry out
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The coming home of Elena was always a holiday for them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading True, Iona was to go out again the next day; but Iona had never taken the hold on their familiar life that Elena had always maintained.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meantime, San Salvador, unconscious of danger, was all joyful expectation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Many were busy preparing letters and little gifts.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Besides, they had this pleasure connected with her going, that she would take messages to their friends.
