used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
(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 His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And where was Gervase?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
a state at a particular time
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
at any time
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
Gervase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And where was Gervase?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
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 The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
ParsonsnounUS /ˈpɑːrsənz/
United States sociologist (1902-1979)
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
Identical; not different.
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His mother lay in the same condition all the next day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
precisely as stated
From this reading There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And where was Gervase?
(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 There had been “a stroke” before, though it was slight and had not been talked about; but Parsons knew very well what he was afraid of, and should have kept her mistress from excitement.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The doctor said calmly that it was what he had looked for, for a long time.
in or at the place that
From this reading And where was Gervase?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was little hope that she would ever come out of it.
