used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
(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 Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
chaisenounUS /ʃeɪz/
a long chair; for reclining
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
closetedverbUS /ˈklɑːzətɪd/
past form of “closet” — confine to a small space, as for intensive work
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
confidedverbUS /kənˈfaɪdɪd/
past form of “confide” — reveal in private; tell confidentially
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the act of departing
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
displeasurenounUS /dɪˈspleʒər/
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
at any time
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Uncle Roland was gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
Roland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Roland was gone.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
a male human offspring
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But my father was impenetrable in all that related to his brother's secrets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle Roland was gone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Uncle Roland was gone.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
at the time that
From this reading When the Captain was gone, I tried to sound my father as to the cause of so sudden a departure.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Whether or not the Captain had ever confided to him the cause of his displeasure with his son,--a mystery which much haunted me,--my father was mute on that score both to my mother and myself.
which person or people
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before he went, he was closeted for an hour with my father, who then accompanied him to the gate; and we all crowded round him as he stepped into his chaise.
