used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
(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 “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
for the reason that
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading “You're early, Ben,” he said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
Clara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
clientsnounUS /ˈklaɪənts/
plural of “client” — a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
complainsverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnz/
third-person singular of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
door'snounUS /dɔːrz/
possessive form of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
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 “You're early, Ben,” he said.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the act of acquiring something
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
death of a person
From this reading He looked rather grave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You're early, Ben,” he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
Landray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
immediately past
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
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 “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the literary culture
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked rather grave.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
and nothing more
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
on the contrary
From this reading He looked rather grave.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You're early, Ben,” he said.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I don't understand them; and the more I've thought about them, the less I understand them.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I don't want any clients to turn away because my door's shut; and not only that, I was expecting a letter from Clara on the early mail.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Her mother complains that you seem to be getting all the letters; but see here, Ben, Mrs. Landray had me glance over those papers you left for her last night.”
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You're early, Ben,” he said.
