used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
anew
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
eagerly desirous
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it was, he was obliged to back out.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading As it was, he was obliged to back out.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
at any time
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading As it was, he was obliged to back out.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As it was, he was obliged to back out.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
move stealthily
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was the first time that Graham had ever received such an invitation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
unbearableadjectiveUS /ənˈberəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
unwontedadjective
unaccustomed or unusual
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
urgentlyadverbUS /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/
with great urgency
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was surprised, and if he had not been so desperately anxious to slip up-stairs, lay quick hands on the bag and get away again he would have accepted it gladly.
yearnverbUS /jɜːrn/
desire strongly or persistently
From this reading For a reason that he could not explain he felt at that instant an almost unbearable desire to find his father, to get in touch with him, to give something and receive something that he seemed to yearn for and need more urgently than at any other moment in his life.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading There was an unwonted look of excitement on his father's thin face and a ring in his voice which made it almost youthful.
