used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
in a state of sleep
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
an occurrence of something
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
one or the other of two
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
especialadjectiveUS /əˈspeʃəl/
surpassing what is common or usual or expected
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
a boy or man
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
come to pass
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
HumenounUS /hjuːm/
Scottish philosopher skeptical philosophy restricted human knowledge to that which can be perceived by the senses (1711-1776)
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
Hume's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
and nothing more
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
a condition requiring relief
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
Nona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
not divisible by two
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Moreover, how did it happen that he was a British officer?
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
ranksnounUS /ræŋks/
plural of “rank” — a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading That night just before falling asleep Nona Davis had an unexpected flash of thought.
valornounUS /ˈvælər/
the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)
From this reading Now and then for some especial act of valor, or for some especial ability, a man was raised from the ranks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
well-educatedadjectiveUS /ˈweˈledʒəkeɪtɪd/
highly educated; having extensive information or understanding
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
which person or people
From this reading It was odd that Lieutenant Hume, who had been a friend in need, should turn out to be such a well-educated and attractive fellow.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet Nona did not believe either of these things to have happened in Lieutenant Hume’s case.
