used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
the state of being absent
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
in addition
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
completely unclothed
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
for the reason that
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
brother-in-law's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
Ebenezer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
exasperationnounUS /ˌeksæspərˈeɪʃən/
an exasperated feeling of annoyance
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
FredericknounUS /ˈfredrɪk/
a town in northern Maryland to the west of Baltimore
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
a young female
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
the act of giving
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
gleanverbUS /ɡliːn/
gather, as of natural products
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
GravesnounUS /ɡreɪvz/
English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Jealousy of Young tormented him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
IthacanounUS /ˈɪθəkə/
a college town in central New York on Lake Cayuga
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
From this reading Jealousy of Young tormented him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
the literary culture
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
Madelene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
particularsnounUS /pərˈtɪkjələrz/
plural of “particular” — a fact about some part (as opposed to general)
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
SkinnernounUS /ˈskɪnər/
United States actor (1858-1942)
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
a male human offspring
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
squatternounUS /ˈskwɑːtər/
someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
Tessibel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
Tessibel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had learned from Helen's letters to Madelene that Tessibel Skinner had a small son.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He had been able to glean but the bare outlines of the story, because Ebenezer and Helen had been abroad most of the time, and his impatient spirit chafed to know the intimate particulars of Tessibel's life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
tormentedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrmentɪd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading Jealousy of Young tormented him.
precisely as stated
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
a late time of life
From this reading FATHER AND SON After an absence from his native city of three years and a half, Frederick Graves was returning to Ithaca, a very sick man.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading His brother-in-law's exasperation at Young for giving the squatter girl and her little son a home at the lake had also been reflected in the correspondence.
