used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
(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 The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading “For the moment nothing definite was known.
without deviation
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
disownedverbUS /dɪˈsoʊnd/
past form of “disown” — prevent deliberately (as by making a will) from inheriting
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
eccentricitiesnounUS /ˌeksenˈtrɪsɪtiz/
plural of “eccentricity” — strange and unconventional behavior
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
one or the other of two
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
filialadjectiveUS /ˈfɪliəl/
designating the generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
a particular point in time
From this reading “For the moment nothing definite was known.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “For the moment nothing definite was known.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
principlesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
plural of “principle” — a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
a male human offspring
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
staunchadjectiveUS /stɔːntʃ/
firm and dependable especially in loyalty
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
tonguesnounUS /tʌŋz/
plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
precisely as stated
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
wagnounUS /wæɡ/
a witty amusing person who makes jokes
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “For the moment nothing definite was known.
(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 The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The old lady’s eccentricities were pretty well known throughout all her neighbourhood, at any rate.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading “Directly, therefore, that the papers mentioned the sudden death of Mrs. Yule, tongues began to wag, and, whilst some asserted ‘Accident,’ others had already begun to whisper ‘Murder.’
which person or people
From this reading Then, she had a large circle of friends, who all took sides, either for the disowned son or for the old lady’s rigid and staunch principles of filial obedience.
YulenounUS /juːl/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading “From the very first the public took a very great interest in the sad death of Mrs. Yule.
