used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
Ardenlennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could I stay longer?
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
factornounUS /ˈfæktər/
anything that contributes causally to a result
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
the act of giving
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
the act of departing
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could I stay longer?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is the middle of the session.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
LilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
for more time
From this reading How could I stay longer?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “Indeed and alas, I meant it, Lily.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It is the middle of the session.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is the middle of the session.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
Ronald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
express in words
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
sessionnounUS /ˈseʃən/
a meeting for execution of a group's functions
From this reading It is the middle of the session.
term of address for a man
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading How could I stay longer?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is the middle of the session.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
a message informing of danger
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was, as I said to the minister--though you never more than half believe what I say--a real piece of business with Sir John’s factor at Ardenlennie that gave me the occasion of spending a few days with my Lily, which I seized upon without giving you any warning, as you know.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Did you mean that, Ronald--that you are really going away to-morrow?”
