used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But my plans and yours are all laid.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
deductionsnounUS /dɪˈdʌkʃənz/
plural of “deduction” — a reduction in the gross amount on which a tax is calculated; reduces taxes by the percentage fixed for the taxpayer's income bracket
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
fannedadjectiveUS /fænd/
especially spread in a fan shape
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
set down according to a plan
From this reading But my plans and yours are all laid.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
momentousadjectiveUS /moʊˈmentəs/
of very great significance
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But my plans and yours are all laid.
not one, and not any
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading But my plans and yours are all laid.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
Priscilla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
carry out
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
express in words
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading By all the deductions of experience the three people in the little inn should have, in the light of the morning after, been reduced to common sense; but the day laughed common sense to scorn and fanned the fires of the previous evening to bright flame.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
Travers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
produce a literary work
From this reading "I must write a letter," announced Margaret after breakfast, "a letter so momentous that it will take me--an hour and a half!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
You'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You'll do exactly what I tell you to do; and you, too, Doctor Travers."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Now, Priscilla, none of your cap and apron look.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading But my plans and yours are all laid.
