used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
gotten under control
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
FORTESCUE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
indisposedadjective
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
immediately past
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
not any; not one
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
and nothing more
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
plural of “page” — one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
stallnounUS /stɔːl/
a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
believed likely
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When he was last at home, he had thought his father was aged and altered, and therefore he had suspected that illness was the reason of his summons.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
create by training and teaching
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DIFFICULT POSITION CAPTAIN FORTESCUE was in good time for his train, and secured a corner seat in the carriage.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
at the time that
From this reading He bought a book at the stall and opened it when the train started, but he read only a few pages.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
showing curiosity
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was wondering why his father had sent for him, and what explanation of the telegram he would receive on his arrival.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, from the letter received the day before, he had evidently been out as usual, and it contained no hint of his feeling indisposed at the time of writing it.
