used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The steamer was about to leave.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
baggagenounUS /ˈbæɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
car-load
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
ClarencenounUS /ˈklerəns/
a closed carriage with four wheels and seats for four passengers
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He was pale and desperate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was pale and desperate.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
and nothing more
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
immediately past
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
go away from a place
From this reading The steamer was about to leave.
Mercedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
over-crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wharf was over-crowded.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading He was pale and desperate.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
with speed
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
express in words
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant.
shippedverbUS /ʃɪpt/
inflected form of “ship” — transport commercially
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The steamer was about to leave.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wharf was over-crowded.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The steamer was about to leave.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The wharf was over-crowded.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading The wharf was over-crowded.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her.
