used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NOAH AND MOSES.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
aunounUS /oʊ/
a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
placed in a grave
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
café
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
complicatedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmpləkeɪtəd/
difficult to analyze or understand
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
correspondentnounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndənt/
someone who communicates by means of letters
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
an old word for “before”
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
Hortense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
lait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
MoorenounUS /mʊr/
United States composer of works noted for their use of the American vernacular (1893-1969)
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
MOSESnounUS /ˈmoʊzəs/
(Old Testament) the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red sea on a journey known as the Exodus; Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai
From this reading NOAH AND MOSES.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
mysteriesnounUS /ˈmɪstəriz/
plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
not any; not one
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
NOAHnounUS /ˈnoʊə/
the Hebrew patriarch who saved himself and his family and the animals by building an ark in which they survived 40 days and 40 nights of rain; the story of Noah and the flood is told in the Book of Genesis
From this reading NOAH AND MOSES.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
renderverbUS /ˈrendər/
cause to become
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/
(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
except for; apart from
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
scareverbUS /sker/
cause fear in
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
ScottnounUS /skɑːt/
award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
sepulchrenoun
a chamber that is used as a grave
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
tartines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
in or at that place or location
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
transactedverbUS /trænˈsæktɪd/
past form of “transact” — conduct business
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The secrets of business--complicated and often dismal mysteries--were buried in his breast, and never came out of their sepulchre save now and then to scare Joe Scott, or give a start to some foreign correspondent.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What business he transacted there he kept to himself.
Whinbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day Moore had risen before the sun, and had taken a ride to Whinbury and back ere his sister had made the café au lait or cut the tartines for his breakfast.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Hortense asked no questions: it was not her wont to comment on his movements, nor his to render an account of them.
