used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are ill, Polly Burton.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
bedtimenounUS /ˈbedtaɪm/
the time you go to bed
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
BurtonnounUS /ˈbɜːrtən/
English explorer who with John Speke was the first European to explore Lake Tanganyika (1821-1890)
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
the act of departing
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
at any time
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading "You are ill, Polly Burton.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Miss Patricia quickly opened it.
and nothing more
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Miss Patricia quickly opened it.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Patricia quickly opened it.
Patricia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You are ill, Polly Burton.
with speed
From this reading Miss Patricia quickly opened it.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
with low volume
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A DEPARTURE AND AN ARRIVAL One evening two days later a little after the hour for bedtime at the farm, Mrs. Burton knocked softly at Miss Patricia's door.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
(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, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It seems to me that we had quite enough to do without entertaining guests.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Well, it is just what I have been expecting ever since the arrival of that strange man and woman.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are ill, Polly Burton.