used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
in addition
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
cabledverbUS /ˈkeɪbəld/
past form of “cable” — send cables, wires, or telegrams
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/
first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
the act of departing
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
estimatenounUS /ˈestəmət/
an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
at any time
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
only a very short time before
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
lunchingnounUS /ˈlʌntʃɪŋ/
the act of eating lunch
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
Maud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
sister-in-lawnounUS /ˈsɪstərɪnlɔː/
the sister of your spouse
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading That might add considerably to the number of things to be thought about.
Thurso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
precisely as stated
From this reading Ever since the departure of her husband and sister-in-law to America her hands had been very full, and she had devoted more time than usual to purely social duties.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Catherine was returning home to Thurso House the next afternoon about four o'clock.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had been lunching out, and a number of people, she was glad to think, were coming to dinner; but she had a good deal to do before that, and she hardly liked to estimate how much to think about.
which person or people
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Also, a telegram from Maud, who cabled to her every day, would probably have arrived by the time she got home.
