used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
quick and energetic
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
businesslikeadjectiveUS /ˈbɪznɪslaɪk/
exhibiting methodical and systematic characteristics that would be useful in business
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
clergymannounUS /ˈklɜːrdʒimən/
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
fifteenthadjectiveUS /fɪfˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
nobilitynounUS /noʊˈbɪləti/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
officiatedverbUS /əˈfɪʃieɪtəd/
past form of “officiate” — act in an official capacity in a ceremony or religious ritual, such as a wedding
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
plightnounUS /plaɪt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
on the contrary
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
express in words
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Indeed, he had gone to some pains to prepare himself for an event far out of the ordinary.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
express in speech
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Such an event certainly calls for a little more than the customary preparations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had looked forward to a rather smart affair, so to speak, on the afternoon of the fifteenth.
trothnounUS /troʊθ/
a mutual promise to marry
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BEGINNING THE brisk, businesslike little clergyman was sorely disappointed.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
which person or people
From this reading It isn't every day that one has the opportunity to perform a ceremony wherein a real Lord and Lady plight the troth; it isn't every parson who can say he has officiated for nobility.
