used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
eagerly desirous
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
for the reason that
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
bound or obligated, as under a pledge to a particular cause, action, or attitude
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
a female human offspring
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
HarrisonnounUS /ˈherɪsən/
English actor on stage and in films (1908-1990)
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
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 His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
a person who carries a message
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
Messenger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Messenger’s story was soon told.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
peculiarlyadverbUS /pɪˈkjuːljərli/
uniquely or characteristically
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
presumablyadverbUS /prəˈzuːməbli/
by reasonable assumption
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
any of several noncommissioned officer ranks in the Army or Air Force or Marines ranking above a corporal
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
in the near future
From this reading Mr. Messenger’s story was soon told.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Mr. Messenger’s story was soon told.
suicidenounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading His daughter had left the hotel presumably between nine and ten o’clock, and had not been seen since.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
a special situation
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Mr. Messenger’s story was soon told.
Ulrica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
Vernon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
precisely as stated
From this reading He explained that he was peculiarly anxious because she had been in very low spirits recently.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Messenger’s story was soon told.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
at the time that
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
which person or people
From this reading For one thing, a friend of hers, a Mrs. Burton who lived a few miles away, had committed suicide about three weeks before.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Mr. Messenger and the Sergeant were in the drawing-room talking to Lady Ulrica and Vernon, when Harrison, at the head of the little party, entered by the French window.
