used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
propose a payment
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
set up or found
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
good-morning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
immediately past
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
a particular point in time
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
on one occasion
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
remaindernounUS /rɪˈmeɪndər/
something left after other parts have been taken away
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The letter seemed to be interesting, for although he looked up to bid her good-morning, he returned to the reading immediately.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading When he reached the foot of the last page he muttered an exclamation; shook his head, and, turning back to the beginning, read the letter through once more.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
unopenedadjectiveUS /əˈnoʊpənd/
not yet opened or unsealed
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
Varunas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The remainder of the mail brought up from the post office by Varunas lay beside his plate unopened.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is it, Uncle Foster?” she asked, after a moment.
at the time that
From this reading When Esther entered the dining room next morning she found her uncle already seated at the breakfast table reading a letter.
