used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
a youthful male person
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
defilementnoun
the state of being polluted
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Reason, in the main, was in favor of his doing it.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
exhortationsnounUS /ˌeɡzɔːrˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “exhortation” — a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some action
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
promote over another
From this reading Reason, in the main, was in favor of his doing it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Reason, in the main, was in favor of his doing it.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
conformity or harmony
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
set down according to a plan
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
legallyadverbUS /ˈliːɡəli/
by law; conforming to the law
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
most important element
From this reading Reason, in the main, was in favor of his doing it.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
offensenounUS /əˈfens/
a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
Quidmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Reason, in the main, was in favor of his doing it.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Not to keep his word had come to seem an offense of the nature of personal defilement.
stressnounUS /stres/
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
male cat
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
which person or people
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He said he understood, though in his heart of hearts he wished that he hadn't been charged with the duty.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading In the first place, he had promised, and he had always responded to those exhortations of his teachers which laid stress on keeping his word.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
XIIInoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading XIII If you had asked the boy who was now legally Tom Quidmore why he was reluctant to give his mother a powder that would do her good he would have been unable to explain his hesitation.
