used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He sniffed at them.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
BiddynounUS /ˈbɪdi/
adult female chicken
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
demurverbUS /dɪˈmɜːr/
take exception to
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
entailingverbUS /ɪnˈteɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “entail” — have as a logical consequence
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
a boy or man
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
Gabrielle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
having or involving the use of hands
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
Jocelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
the literary culture
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
Oughterard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
postmannounUS /ˈpoʊstmən/
a man who delivers the mail
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
Radway's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
Roscarna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
express in words
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
term of address for a man
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
sniffedverbUS /snɪft/
past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading He sniffed at them.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
in the near future
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He sniffed at them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading If that was all the fellow had to say it struck him as a waste of time and paper.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were the first letters of any kind that Gabrielle had received.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He questioned her about it, and she, without the least demur, handed him Radway's letters.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The postman from Oughterard did not visit Roscarna twenty times in the year, and since his arrival was something of an event, entailing a meal and endless gossip with Biddy Joyce, Sir Jocelyn soon became aware of his daughter's correspondence.
