used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
react verbally
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/
not as far along as normal in development
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
disconnectionnounUS /ˌdɪskəˈnekʃən/
state of being disconnected
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
HARRIET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
and nothing more
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
for more time
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
MeredithnounUS /ˈmerɪdɪθ/
United States civil rights leader whose college registration caused riots in traditionally segregated Mississippi (born in 1933)
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
messagesnounUS /ˈmesədʒəz/
plural of “message” — a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
a form of address for a man
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
absolutely essential
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
not any; not one
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
receivernounUS /rəˈsiːvər/
set that receives radio or tv signals
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
express in words
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
express in speech
From this reading As he rang the bell for disconnection, he fancied he heard a movement in the room, and when he turned to speak to her, Harriet was gone.
Sponley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
not in physical motion
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
in or at that place or location
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He could not decide just what he had best say to Harriet when he turned away from the telephone.
at the time that
From this reading HARRIET Sponley talked to Mr. Meredith somewhat longer than was strictly necessary; and when there was nothing more to say, he still delayed a little in hanging up the receiver.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He called her name, but there was no answer, and while he listened for it, he thought he heard her step on the stairs.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To some ears his messages would have sounded innocent enough, but Harriet was different; still he could not be sure that she had listened at all.
