used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
CarternounUS /ˈkɑːrtər/
Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
distancesnounUS /ˈdɪstənsəz/
plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Now, suddenly he seemed to be removed to indefinite distances.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading Now, suddenly he seemed to be removed to indefinite distances.
the literary culture
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
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 Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, suddenly he seemed to be removed to indefinite distances.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
on one occasion
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
playmatenounUS /ˈpleɪmeɪt/
a companion at play
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Now, suddenly he seemed to be removed to indefinite distances.
an educational institution
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
sessionsnounUS /ˈseʃənz/
United States composer who promoted 20th century music (1896-1985)
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Now, suddenly he seemed to be removed to indefinite distances.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But always there had seemed to be Mark Carter, her old friend and playmate, in the background.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
two times
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
precisely as stated
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
at the time that
From this reading He had always been away when she was at home, and she had been home very little between her school years.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading There had been summer sessions twice and once father and mother had come to her and they had taken a wonderful trip together.
a late time of life
From this reading Four years was a long time, of course, but there had been occasional letters.
