used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
matters of personal concern
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
attentivelyadverbUS /əˈtentɪvli/
with attention; in an attentive manner
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
rid of obstructions
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
clear-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
ejaculationnounUS /iˌdʒækjuːˈleɪʃən/
an abrupt emphatic exclamation expressing emotion
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
interruptverbUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpt/
make a break in
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
set down according to a plan
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
the act of departing
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
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 So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
disposed of to a purchaser
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
a quantity of money
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
carry out
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
in or at that place or location
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He did not interrupt her, but now and then muttered an ejaculation through a cloud of smoke.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading LEAVING HOME Uncle Ben listened attentively as Elizabeth gave an account of affairs at the farm.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Elizabeth was clear-headed, and did not take long to explain the position to her uncle.
at the time that
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was impossible to keep on the farm without capital, and the Captain, though he had a good sum laid by, was not the man to risk his money in a business of which he knew nothing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading So the farm must be sold, and it was clear that when everything was settled up, there would be little or nothing left for the girls to live on.
