used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
Abbott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
Alexina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
aristocraticadjectiveUS /ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
detestedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtestɪd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Moreover he feared Abbott.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
hawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
of the present time and place
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
MarianounUS /mərˈiːə/
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
and nothing more
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover he feared Abbott.
MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/
English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
nonplussedadjectiveUS /nɑːnˈplʌst/
filled with bewilderment
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
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 was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
male cat
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
unconsideredadjective
without proper consideration or reflection
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
at the time that
From this reading I Mortimer looked nonplussed when Alexina informed him at dinner of the immediate solution of their difficulties.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading He detested Tom and Maria Abbott; there were certain things he could forget in his aristocratic wife's presence, far as she had withdrawn, but never in theirs.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He was as keen as a hawk; an unconsidered word and he might as well have told the whole story.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Well, he never talked much anyhow; he would merely talk less.
