used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The boy reflected a while before he observed:
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy reflected a while before he observed:
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
set up or found
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
usually; as a rule
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What was he?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That's what papa is."
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The boy reflected a while before he observed:
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "That's what papa is."
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading The boy reflected a while before he observed:
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
recurring again and again
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's what papa is."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
unansweredadjectiveUS /ˌʌˈnænsərd/
not returned in kind
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
vaktmästare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What was he?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What was he?"
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "He was a _vaktmästare_," she said finally, and Keith knew that, for some reason, she found the word unpleasant.
but in spite of that
From this reading The mother remained silent for a good long while, and Keith repeated his question, not yet having learned that unanswered questions generally are unwelcome questions.
