used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
addingverbUS /ˈædɪŋ/
-ing form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
anew
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
on or to one side
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
clippedadjectiveUS /klɪpt/
cut or trimmed by clipping
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
clippingnounUS /ˈklɪpɪŋ/
an excerpt cut from a newspaper or magazine
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
the act of giving
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
the act of retaining something
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
inclosurenounUS /ˌɪnˈkloʊʒər/
something (usually a supporting document) that is enclosed in an envelope with a covering letter
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
the literary culture
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
engage in
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
memorandumnounUS /ˌmemərˈændəm/
a written proposal or reminder
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
methodicallyadverbUS /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/
in a methodical manner
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
perusalnounUS /pərˈuːzəl/
reading carefully with intent to remember
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
removingverbUS /riˈmuːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “remove” — remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
revertedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “revert” — go back to a previous state
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
precisely, exactly
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Then, instead of adding it to the letters before him, he laid it aside; and a few minutes later reverted to it again, giving the letter a second careful perusal.
shearsnounUS /ʃiːrz/
large scissors with strong blades
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
smokedadjectiveUS /smoʊkt/
(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Leaning back in my chair, I smoked my morning cigar and watched Uncle Nelson open his mail.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had an old-fashioned way of doing this: holding the envelope in his left hand, clipping its right edge with his desk shears, and then removing the inclosure and carefully reading it before he returned it to its original envelope.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading As I watched him methodically working, Uncle Nelson raised a large blue envelope, clipped its end, and read the inclosure with an appearance of unusual interest.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Across one end he would make a memorandum of the contents, after which the letters were placed in a neat pile.
