used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
(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 She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
Christine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
dearly loved
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
Erskine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
set up or found
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was from Mr. Meukes.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was from Mr. Meukes.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
Meukes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was from Mr. Meukes.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
a form of address for a man
From this reading It was from Mr. Meukes.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
not any; not one
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
do one's shopping
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
in the direction of
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading “Dear Miss West, I have had an interview with our friend.
at the time that
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
in or at the place that
From this reading She was glad of her caution when one morning towards the close of her stay she found a letter for her at the shop where she had all her correspondence delivered.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She tore it open with a beating heart, and read:
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Christine had not accepted Mrs. Erskine's invitation to stay for another fortnight, but decided that another week at the villa would be the utmost she could afford to waste in futile efforts to learn some clue in a past to which no one referred.
