used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
absentlyadverb
in an absentminded or preoccupied manner
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
agreeablyadverb
in an enjoyable manner
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
(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 I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
for the reason that
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
Euripidesnoun
one of the greatest tragic dramatists of ancient Greece (480-406 BC)
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
Godfrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
insupportableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnsəˈpɔːrtəbəl/
incapable of being justified or explained
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
and nothing more
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
in the near future
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seems that houses had become insupportable to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Just then you were smiling--quite agreeably!”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
at the time that
From this reading “I was thinking,” he answered absently, “about Euripides; how, when he was an old man, he went and lived in a cave by the sea, and it was thought queer, at the time.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading I wonder whether it was because he had observed women so closely all his life.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What are you thinking about, Godfrey?” she said presently.
