used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
in actual fact
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
arrestverbUS /ərˈest/
take into custody
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “To be sure not,” said Mary, promptly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
causingnounUS /ˈkɑːzɪŋ/
the act of causing something to happen
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
carefully weighed
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
forbearingadjective
showing patient and unruffled self-control and restraint under adversity; slow to retaliate or express resentment
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
set up or found
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
Holland'snounUS /ˈhɑːləndz/
possessive form of “holland” — a constitutional monarchy in western Europe on the North Sea; half the country lies below sea level
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
with little or no delay
From this reading “To be sure not,” said Mary, promptly.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “To be sure not,” said Mary, promptly.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
thiefnounUS /θiːf/
a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading He cannot expect me to keep a thief in my house.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
male cat
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
unshakenadjectiveUS /ənˈʃeɪkən/
unshaken in purpose
From this reading Her conviction remained unshaken that she had stolen Mr. Holland’s money, and she considered that she had been forbearing in not causing her arrest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Merton was taken by surprise when she found that Tom had actually gone.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Your uncle cannot blame me,” she said to Mary, “for sending her away.
