used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MEETING AND PARTING.
any person at all
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
correspondentnounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndənt/
someone who communicates by means of letters
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
divisible by two
From this reading Even the postmark was obliterated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
masculineadjectiveUS /ˈmæskjələn/
of grammatical gender
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading MEETING AND PARTING.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading Even the postmark was obliterated.
the act of departing politely
From this reading MEETING AND PARTING.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
postmarknounUS /ˈpoʊstmɑːrk/
a cancellation mark stamped on mail by postal officials; indicates the post office and date of mailing
From this reading Even the postmark was obliterated.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
express in words
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
truthfullyadverbUS /ˈtruːθfəli/
with truth
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
unfamiliaradjectiveUS /ˌʌnfəˈmɪljər/
not known or well known
From this reading Monday morning brought a letter for Gertrude in a distinctly masculine, but quite unfamiliar handwriting.
unfamiliaritynounUS /ˌʌnfəmɪˈljerəti/
unusualness as a consequence of not being well known
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
unopenedadjectiveUS /əˈnoʊpənd/
not yet opened or unsealed
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
precisely as stated
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Its very unfamiliarity made her let it lie unopened beside her plate while she began her breakfast.
which person or people
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
showing curiosity
From this reading If anyone showed curiosity about her correspondent she could truthfully say she did not know who the letter was from, and she liked to amuse herself with wondering about it.
