used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
the state of being absent
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
not being in a specified place
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT.
discouragedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskɜːrədʒd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
dulyadverbUS /ˈduːli/
in accordance with what is appropriate or suitable for the circumstances
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/
a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
at any time
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
Ezra's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
not any; not one
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A CHANGE OF FRONT.
preferringverbUS /prɪˈfɜːrɪŋ/
inflected form of “prefer” — like better; value more highly
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
retailedverbUS /ˈriːteɪld/
past form of “retail” — be sold at the retail level
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
slightedverbUS /ˈslaɪtɪd/
past form of “slight” — pay no attention to, disrespect
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
a male human offspring
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
sullenlyadverb
in a sullen manner
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "I cannot understand how you ever came to let the matter go so far," his son answered sullenly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This episode had occurred about a fortnight before Ezra's return from Africa, and was duly retailed to him by his father.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I can always keep them apart, and if he is absent and you are present--especially as she has no idea of the cause of his absence--she will end by feeling slighted and preferring you."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You need not be discouraged by that," he said.
