used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
AndrewnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
put or pin the blame on
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
boisterousadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪstərəs/
noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
without doubt or question
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
deceasenounUS /dɪˈsiːs/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
electingverbUS /ɪˈlektɪŋ/
-ing form of “elect” — select by a vote for an office or membership
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
equipoisenoun
equality of distribution
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
impressiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪv/
making a strong or vivid impression
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
staying power
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
orthodoxynounUS /ˈɔːrθədɑːksi/
the quality of being orthodox (especially in religion)
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
respectabilitynounUS /riˌspektəˈbɪlɪti/
honorableness by virtue of being respectable and having a good reputation
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
sandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
sapverbUS /sæp/
deplete
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
sustainverbUS /səˈsteɪn/
lengthen or extend in duration or space
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clearly they had not so fine an instinct for respectability as their brother.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
unhappilyadverbUS /ənˈhæpəli/
in an unpleasant way
From this reading That afternoon they instinctively drifted away from the others and sat unhappily together.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
Walkingshaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It never occurred to Frank and Jean to blame their father in any way for electing so boisterous a day for his probable decease.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading One might as well expect to find sap running up the legs of his office stool.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their orthodoxy, compared with his, was built upon a sandy foundation: warm hearts can never hope to sustain, in its impressive equipoise, the head of an Andrew Walkingshaw.
