used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
anew
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
react verbally
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
Colin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
dominienoun
a clergyman; especially a settled minister or parson
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
drearyadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪri/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
lairdnounUS /lerd/
a landowner
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
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 Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
information about recent and important events
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
not any; not one
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
a human being
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
only a very short time before
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
son'snounUS /sʌnz/
possessive form of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
Tallisker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
a just detectable amount
From this reading Colin had left Rome, and left no trace behind him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Life for some time was a dreary weight to him, he scarce felt as if he could lift it again.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But he received the news of his son's disappearance without remark.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The dominie had felt certain that Colin would answer his letter in person, but after a long silence he received it back again.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The laird knew that Tallisker had written, and he too had been hoping and expecting.
