used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
Cecily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
curtadjectiveUS /kɜːrt/
marked by rude or peremptory shortness
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
the act of departing
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
despatched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
characterized by great determination
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
one or the other of two
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
being one more than ten
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
fortnight's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
idlingnounUS /ˈaɪdəlɪŋ/
having no employment
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
intimationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
go away from a place
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
the act of departing
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
Maidenheadnoun
a fold of tissue that partly covers the entrance to the vagina of a virgin
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
easily agitated
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
not any; not one
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
a brief written record
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
Paddington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
Philippa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
having a supporting base
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
a state of acute pain
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
carry out
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
telegramsnounUS /ˈteləɡræmz/
plural of “telegram” — a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Quite early, he despatched two telegrams, and leaving a note for Cecily, he was on his way to Paddington before eleven o’clock.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading By the next morning Robert had determined to leave town for a week or two, and take a holiday.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading A fortnight’s idling on the river would do him no harm, and relieve him from the necessity of meeting either his wife or Philippa.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Cecily received the curt intimation of his departure with a sense of great relief.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He felt ill and nervous; his work was suffering; he would take advantage of a standing invitation from some friends at Maidenhead.
