used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
abateverbUS /əˈbeɪt/
make less active or intense
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
for the reason that
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
crampedadjectiveUS /kræmpt/
constricted in size
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
dearly loved
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
earlier in time; previously
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
Elsa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
divisible by two
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
only a very short time before
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
a person who carries a message
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
nocturnaladjectiveUS /nɑːkˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or active during the night
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
and nothing more
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/
unpleasantly
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
on the contrary
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
restlessadjectiveUS /ˈrestləs/
worried and uneasy
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
signifyverbUS /ˈsɪɡnəfaɪ/
denote or connote
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The President smiled, and so did Elsa, from politeness; but her smile had little heart in it.
in the near future
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The President had not been waiting for his return, nor even for that of the mounted messenger, but rather to give the storm time to abate a little.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it because their stay in the low, cramped, stuffy little house was being prolonged?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She felt uneasy and restless, she herself hardly knew why.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Only a very little," said he; "it cannot signify whether we arrive half an hour earlier or later; and as for our nocturnal drive in an open cart on our roads, my dear young lady, we shall always experience that soon enough and painfully enough."
