used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
(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 Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
annoyingadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
Bolton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
Emmeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
Emmeline's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
the literary culture
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
not able to be found
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
(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 SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
established beyond doubt
From this reading To her great delight it proved to be from Mary.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
in the near future
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
in or at that place or location
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Sunday prayers, however, never took long, and Emmeline was soon free to fly back to her letter.
troopnounUS /truːp/
a group of soldiers
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
precisely as stated
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Letters were rare and joyful events to the Bolton children, and Emmeline thought it very annoying of the servants to troop in for prayers before she had had time to glance at the contents of this one.
at the time that
From this reading SUNDAY There was a letter waiting on Emmeline’s plate when she came down to breakfast next morning.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Mary began by saying how very much she was missing them all, and how often she thought of them and wondered how they were getting on.
