used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
dudgeonnounUS /ˈdʌdʒən/
a feeling of intense indignation (now used only in the phrase “in high dudgeon”)
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
HampshirenounUS /ˈhæmpʃər/
a county of southern England on the English Channel
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
HazeladjectiveUS /ˈheɪzəl/
of a light brown or yellowish brown color
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
intercoursenounUS /ˈɪntərkɔːrs/
communication between individuals
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
MarianounUS /mərˈiːə/
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
scoldedverbUS /ˈskoʊldɪd/
past form of “scold” — censure severely or angrily
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
shakilyadverb
in an insecurely shaky manner
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
taxedverbUS /tækst/
past form of “tax” — levy a tax on
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Her strength was taxed to its utmost to fill her round of daily duties.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Aunt Maria scolded and insisted on a vacation, and finally in high dudgeon betook herself to Europe for the summer.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The few friends with whom Hazel kept up any intercourse hurried away to mountains or sea, and the summer settled down to business.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading She had little time, however, to worry about it, for the weather was unusually warm and the hospital was full.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading There was a long letter about the first of June from her friend in New Hampshire, more shakily written, she fancied, than those that had come before, and then there came an interval without any reply to hers.
