used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
Carrington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
Carrington's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
courthousenounUS /ˈkɔːrthaʊs/
a government building that houses the offices of a county government
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
DawesnounUS /dɔːz/
American patriot who rode with Paul Revere to warn that the British were advancing on Lexington and Concord (1745-1799)
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
true confidential information
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
fabricationnounUS /ˌfæbrɪˈkeɪʃən/
a deliberately false or improbable account
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
set up or found
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
fruitlessadjectiveUS /ˈfruːtləs/
unproductive of success
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
destroyed or killed
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
Harlan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
Harlan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
interrogatingverbUS /ˌɪnˈterəɡeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “interrogate” — transmit (a signal) for setting off an appropriate response, as in telecommunication
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
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 She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
and nothing more
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
go across or through
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
recordsnounUS /rəˈkɔːrdz/
plural of “record” — anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
referencenounUS /ˈrefərəns/
a remark that calls attention to something or someone
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/
meet the requirements or expectations of
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
sojournnounUS /ˈsoʊdʒərn/
a temporary stay (e.g., as a guest)
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had gone to the courthouse, there to pass long hours searching the records—and had found nothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Marion Harlan had responded eagerly to Carrington’s fabrication regarding the rumor of Lawrence Harlan’s presence in Dawes.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was impatient to run the rumor down, to personally satisfy herself, and she believed Carrington.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading But she spent a fruitless week interrogating people in Dawes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Carrington’s reference to her father’s sojourn in the town had been vague—he merely told her that a rumor had reached him—a man’s word, without details—and she had accepted it at its face value.
