used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
the state of being absent
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
CARTERnounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading CRAY WIRES FOR “CARTER.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
CRAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CRAY WIRES FOR “CARTER.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading CRAY WIRES FOR “CARTER.”
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
irrelevantadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreləvənt/
having no bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
and nothing more
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
SimpsonnounUS /ˈsɪmpsən/
United States divorcee whose marriage to Edward VIII created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
Simpson'snounUS /ˈsɪmpsənz/
possessive form of “simpson” — United States divorcee whose marriage to Edward VIII created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
express in words
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
hard to endure
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Nothing, of course,” was the prompt response.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
WIRESnounUS /ˈwaɪərz/
plural of “wire” — ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading CRAY WIRES FOR “CARTER.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading It is not to be wondered at that Mrs. Simpson looked surprised at a question which appeared so irrelevant.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I don’t see what in the world that has to do with Mr. Simpson’s absence.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I’m trying to get at something else, Mrs. Simpson—I’m afraid I can’t tell you just what at present.
