used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
matters of personal concern
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
(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 Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “Certainly.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
Crabtree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
someone who is a detective
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
disreputableadjectiveUS /dɪsˈrepjətəbəl/
lacking respectability in character or behavior or appearance
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
Dora's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
Josiah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
immediately past
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
joined in matrimony
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
and nothing more
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
Sobber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
TadnounUS /tæd/
a slight amount or degree of difference
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker for the time being.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It made his heart sick to think of such a state of affairs.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
a fact that has been verified
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah Crabtree after all?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
