used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
cabnounUS /kæb/
a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
an occurrence of something
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
dearly loved
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
detainedverbUS /dɪˈteɪnd/
past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
disappointverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/
fail to meet the hopes or expectations of
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
Doan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
east-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
divisible by two
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
set up or found
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
hansomnounUS /ˈhænsəm/
a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
nearbyadjectiveUS /ˈnɪrˈbaɪ/
close at hand
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Even now he need not disappoint his mother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
on one occasion
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
pourverbUS /pɔːr/
cause to run
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
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 As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading As soon as he reached the house of Mrs. Doan he could telephone the dear soul, explain that urgent business detained him.
validadjectiveUS /ˈvælɪd/
well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In case the increasing storm should interfere with the cars, there was always a hansom cab at a nearby stable.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Once within the east-bound car the suspended priest found valid excuse for what he had done.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading By dusk he would be free, ready to pour out his heart to the best woman in the world.
