used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
balustradenoun
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
Betty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
Creagh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
Drummond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
Glenogle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Isla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Isla's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
LodgeverbUS /lɑːdʒ/
be a lodger; stay temporarily
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
loggianounUS /ˈlɑːɡiə/
a roofed arcade or gallery with open sides stretching along the front or side of a building; often at an upper level
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Mackinnon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Malcolm's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
muteadjectiveUS /mjuːt/
expressed without speech
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
Neil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
a brief written record
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
ormolunoun
brass that looks like gold; used to decorate furniture
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
cut with a saw
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
sinceritynounUS /sɪnˈserəti/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
travailnounUS /trəˈveɪl/
concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child
From this reading It had cost him much travail, and as Isla read it through she felt its note of sincerity.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
voluminousadjectiveUS /vəˈluːmənəs/
large in volume or bulk
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The sun was upon her hair and on her face, but her eyes were full of a wide and mute astonishment.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was now a fortnight since Neil Drummond had left Nice, carrying Isla’s promise with him, and this was Malcolm’s first letter.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Lady Betty, attending to her own voluminous correspondence at the ormolu desk which stood across the open window of the drawing-room, saw that expression and wondered at it.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading THE CALL Isla Mackinnon was sitting in the stone balustrade of the loggia in front of Lady Betty’s villa at Nice, reading a letter that had been written three days before in the small hours of the morning at the Lodge of Creagh in Glenogle.
