used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
react verbally
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Then Thwaite arose, blessing him, and went to see.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
the formal act of approving
From this reading Then Thwaite arose, blessing him, and went to see.
BORDERnounUS /ˈbɔːrdər/
a line that indicates a boundary
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
travel across or pass over
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
frivolousadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪvələs/
not serious in content or attitude or behavior
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærɪsən/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
gun-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
information about recent and important events
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Then Thwaite arose, blessing him, and went to see.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
suppliesnounUS /səˈplaɪz/
plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then Thwaite arose, blessing him, and went to see.
Thwaite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Thwaite, being tired and cross, told him to answer it himself, expecting some frivolous message about supplies.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The telegraph office proper was on the other side of the river, on the edge of the native town, but a telephone had been established to the garrison.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then Thwaite arose, blessing him, and went to see.
at the time that
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading EVENTS SOUTH OF THE BORDER Thwaite was finishing a solitary dinner and attempting to find interest in a novel when his butler came with news that the telephone bell was ringing in the gun-room.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The man returned in a little with word that he could not understand it.
