used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
(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 I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
on or to one side
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
astrayadverbUS /əˈstreɪ/
away from the right path or direction
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
developmentsnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənts/
plural of “development” — act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
destroyed or killed
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
GuineanounUS /ˈɡɪni/
a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
hard-beat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
ten 10s
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
leapingnounUS /ˈliːpɪŋ/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
musingnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪŋ/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
not any; not one
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
and nothing more
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
a course of conduct
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
reasonings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
the season of growth
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
stripverbUS /strɪp/
take away possessions from someone
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
at the time that
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
showing curiosity
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
the act of creating written works
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
