used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
ArnoldnounUS /ˈɑːrnəld/
English poet and literary critic (1822-1888)
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
cream-coloredadjective
having the color of fresh cream
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
dissatisfactionnounUS /ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/
the feeling of being displeased and discontent
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
dunsnounUS /dʌnz/
plural of “dun” — horse of a dull brownish grey color
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Get the mail, Indigo."
goodlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdli/
large in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
IndigonounUS /ˈɪndəɡoʊ/
a blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically
From this reading "Get the mail, Indigo."
Indigo's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
invitationsnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “invitation” — a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
set down according to a plan
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
the literary culture
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
mailnounUS /meɪl/
the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
From this reading "Get the mail, Indigo."
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
ROYSTERERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ROYSTERERS.
salvernoun
a tray (or large plate) for serving food or drinks; usually made of silver
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
siftedverbUS /ˈsɪftɪd/
past form of “sift” — move as if through a sieve
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
superscribed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One cream-colored envelope, superscribed in a dainty hand, he laid apart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ROYSTERERS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The rest he tore open and tossed into Indigo's lap, as if they were duns, invitations and other such formal matters.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The letters made a goodly heap on the salver, but Harry Arnold sifted them over with an air of dissatisfaction.
