used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
in the past
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
anniversarynounUS /ˌænəˈvɜːrsəri/
the date on which an event occurred in some previous year (or the celebration of it)
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
any person at all
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
attributedverbUS /əˈtrɪbjətɪd/
past form of “attribute” — attribute or credit to
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “You call it your patience, but it became only your habit long ago,” she told him.
for the reason that
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
dearly loved
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
brought into existence
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
a youthful male person
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “You call it your patience, but it became only your habit long ago,” she told him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
dwellverbUS /dwel/
think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
endowmentnounUS /enˈdaʊmənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
set up or found
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
an established custom
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
Harlan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
hopefuladjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpfəl/
having or manifesting hope
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
imperishableadjective
not perishable
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
Lena'snounUS /ˈliːnəz/
possessive form of “lena” — a Russian river in Siberia; flows northward into the Laptev Sea
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
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 What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
held dear
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
engage in
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
absolutely essential
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
Oliphant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
on one occasion
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
and nothing more
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
selectadjectiveUS /səˈlekt/
of superior grade
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
steadfastadjectiveUS /ˈstedfæst/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
not in physical motion
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “You call it your patience, but it became only your habit long ago,” she told him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
under normal conditions
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
which person or people
From this reading SHE was mistaken about Martha, who never had the definite hope Lena’s imagination attributed to her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
Year'snounUS /jɪrz/
possessive form of “year” — a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading This was the explanation she still found it necessary to make to his brother about once a year—usually on New Year’s Day; for it was Harlan’s habit to select that hopeful anniversary as a good time to dwell a little upon his patience.
a late time of life
From this reading Martha was steadfast because she could not help it, having been born with this endowment evidently; and her tenderness for the boy she had loved so heartily was imperishable; but the Dan Oliphant of the middle years did not seem to her to be that boy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You call it your patience, but it became only your habit long ago,” she told him.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You call it your patience, but it became only your habit long ago,” she told him.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading What she felt for the big middle-aged man, she felt only because he had long ago been the beloved youth; she was not in love with him, nor with anybody.
