used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
agreementsnounUS /əˈɡriːmənts/
plural of “agreement” — the statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
cause to be bored
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
examinationnounUS /ɪɡˌzæməˈneɪʃən/
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
foolscapnoun
a size of paper used especially in Britain
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
Hurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
leasesnounUS /ˈliːsɪz/
plural of “lease” — property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
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 Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
left-handadjectiveUS /ˌleftˈhænd/
intended for the left hand
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
methodicaladjectiveUS /məˈθɑːdəkəl/
characterized by method and orderliness
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
MortgagesnounUS /ˈmɔːrɡədʒəz/
plural of “mortgage” — a conditional conveyance of property as security for the repayment of a loan
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
packetsnounUS /ˈpækɪts/
plural of “packet” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
parchmentnounUS /ˈpɑːrtʃ.mənt/
A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used for writing.
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
replacementnounUS /rɪˈpleɪsmənt/
the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
summarizingverbUS /ˈsʌməraɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “summarize” — give a summary
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEARCHING THE PAPERS The late Stephen Hurd had been a methodical man.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
undertakenverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪkən/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
unopenedadjectiveUS /əˈnoʊpənd/
not yet opened or unsealed
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
untouchedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʌtʃt/
still full
From this reading Mortgages, leases, agreements, she left unopened and untouched.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
which person or people
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
Wilhelmina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was clear from the first that Wilhelmina had undertaken not an examination but a search.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Every one of those many packets of foolscap and parchment bore in the left-hand corner near the top a few carefully written words summarizing their contents.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading One by one she passed them back to the young man who handed them out to her, for replacement.
