used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
Abington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
a movement into or inward
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
divisible by two
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
hold firmly
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
Jackson'snounUS /ˈdʒæksənz/
possessive form of “jackson” — English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
the literary culture
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
mutelyadverb
without speaking
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
and nothing more
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
parcelnounUS /ˈpɑːrsəl/
a wrapped container
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
perplexedadjectiveUS /pərˈplekst/
full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
in a vehement outcry
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
be seated
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
sometimeadverbUS /ˈsʌmtaɪm/
at some indefinite or unstated time
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
in the near future
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
a fact that has been verified
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But so soon as it dawned upon him that they meant safety and happiness to Mary, he sprang from his seat and almost shouted for joy.
waistcoatnoun
a man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
walletnounUS /ˈwɔːlət/
a pocket-size case for holding papers and paper money
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was so greatly amazed he could only sit looking mutely at the scattered letters on the table in front of him.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading So perplexed was he that he failed for sometime to grasp the truth--to appreciate what was meant by the appearance of those letters on his table.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was even more amazed at finding them there than he had been the night before at not finding them in the wallet which he had taken from Jackson's waistcoat.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He thought he had arrived at a satisfactory explanation as to how he had come to find within the wallet the sheets of manuscript which he had had in his hand on entering the supper room; but how was he to account for the appearance of the letters in this parcel which he had received from Mrs. Abington?
