used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
anew
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
Aleck's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
anticipateverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪt/
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
aunt'snounUS /ænts/
possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
Braycombe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
ContinentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
fortnight's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
harderadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdər/
comparative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
go away from a place
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
MadeiranounUS /məˈdɪrə/
a Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
the act of departing politely
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
play-fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading THE RIDE TO STAVEMOOR.
sanguineadjectiveUS /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/
confidently optimistic and cheerful
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
only a very short time before
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
school-fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
in the near future
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
hurting
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
the season of growth
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
STAVEMOOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RIDE TO STAVEMOOR.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RIDE TO STAVEMOOR.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RIDE TO STAVEMOOR.
the act of testing something
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My uncle and aunt had left us after a fortnight's visit, and were now on the Continent.
whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/
in contrast with the fact that
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading I believe that she did not anticipate, in as sanguine a spirit as did her husband, the happy meeting again that was talked of for the spring, after a winter in Madeira.
wistfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪstfəl/
showing pensive sadness
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A month after Aleck's arrival at Braycombe, it seemed so perfectly natural to have him with us--he had fitted so completely into the position of companion, play-fellow, school-fellow, brother--that I could scarcely fancy how it felt before he came.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The parting was hard work--harder, I fancy, to them than to him, for boys soon get over trouble, whereas it was plain to see in my aunt's wistful eyes that it was a sore trial to her to leave her child behind.
