used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
AbelnounUS /ˈeɪbəl/
Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
delusionsnounUS /dɪˈluːʒənz/
plural of “delusion” — (psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
a young female
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
the act of departing
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
for more time
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
not any; not one
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
RoaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Roaring Abel was sorry, and said so.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Roaring Abel was sorry, and said so.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading Roaring Abel was sorry, and said so.
spreenounUS /spriː/
a brief indulgence of your impulses
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
Valancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Roaring Abel was sorry, and said so.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On the evening of the day after the funeral Roaring Abel went off for a spree.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He had been sober for four whole days and could endure it no longer.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading A distant cousin from “up back” was coming to keep house for him—quite willing to do so now since there was no sick girl to wait on—but Abel was not under any delusions concerning her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Before he went, Valancy told him she would be going away the next day.
