used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
adriftadjectiveUS /əˈdrɪft/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Well, I don’t ask you to do that.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
compliancenounUS /kəmˈplaɪəns/
acting according to certain accepted standards
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Well, I don’t ask you to do that.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, I don’t ask you to do that.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
divisible by two
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
intimating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
lodgers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
obligationnounUS /ˌɑːbləˈɡeɪʃən/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He even dropped a hint concerning her obligation to him, something he had never done before.
statingverbUS /ˈsteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “state” — express in words
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
succinctlyadverbUS /səkˈsɪŋktli/
with concise and precise brevity; to the point
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
express a supposition
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, I don’t ask you to do that.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading He wrote another, stating his case more succinctly and intimating that he expected compliance with his wishes.
but in spite of that
From this reading Mrs. Carter had not yet replied to his letter.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “It may upset your plans a little,” he wrote, “and I suppose you feel that you can’t shut up that house of yours and turn your other lodgers adrift.
