used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
having companions or an escort
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
subject to appointment
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
CLARA'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLARA'S MARRIAGE.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
ensuingadjectiveUS /ˈensuːɪŋ/
following immediately and as a result of what went before
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
Georgania
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
husbandsnounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
plural of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
go away from a place
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
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 I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading CLARA'S MARRIAGE.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
reunionnounUS /riˈuːnjən/
a party of former associates who have come together again
From this reading It was indeed a joyful family reunion.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
the season of growth
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
carry out
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Laura and Georgania, accompanied by their husbands, came at Christmas to visit their parents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
Willie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Willie was anxious that an early day should be appointed for our marriage; but I was unwilling that our marriage should take place until the ensuing spring.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wished not so suddenly to leave my uncle for the long wedding tour which Willie had in contemplation.
