used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believe I could use that yacht.
broachnounUS /broʊtʃ/
a decorative pin worn by women
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a small house with a single story
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I believe I could use that yacht.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
enlistingnounUS /enˈlɪstɪŋ/
the act of getting recruits; enlisting people for the army (or for a job or a cause etc.)
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
Leila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
MichigannounUS /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
MillsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
Mills'snounUS /ˈmɪlzɪz/
possessive form of “mills” — United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
peachnounUS /piːtʃ/
cultivated in temperate regions
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
purchasingnounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəsɪŋ/
the act of buying
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “It’s a peach of a place, all right,” Leila remarked.
saucernounUS /ˈsɔːsər/
something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
ShepherdnounUS /ˈʃepərd/
a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
staccatoadjectiveUS /stəˈkɑːtoʊ/
(music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I believe I could use that yacht.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
tottered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
the act of using
From this reading I believe I could use that yacht.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He had warned his wife not to broach the matter of purchasing the northern Michigan cottage, which she had threatened to do for some time and had discussed with Leila in the hope of enlisting her as an ally for an effective assault upon Mills.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Shepherd Mills’s cup tottered in its saucer with a sharp staccato.
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading “I wonder if the yacht goes with the house.
