used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PARLEY AND A PRAYER.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A PARLEY AND A PRAYER.
AndrewnounUS /ˈændruː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of Peter; patron saint of Scotland
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
intimacynounUS /ˈɪntəməsi/
close or warm friendship
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
Margery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
held or filled or in use
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
and nothing more
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
PARLEYnounUS /ˈpɑːrli/
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading A PARLEY AND A PRAYER.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading A PARLEY AND A PRAYER.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The impression made by this gained on him as they talked, and, more strongly, as he played.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
unfriendlyadjectiveUS /ənˈfrendli/
not easy to understand or use
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading May was close upon the heels of June before there came a change, but one afternoon, as Andrew paused in his playing, an atmosphere of new intimacy seemed to touch him.
wearinessnounUS /ˈwɪrinəs/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading She had greeted him with a little air of weariness--but not unfriendly--and, as he took her hand, she looked at him with some indefinite question in her eyes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had been alone with Margery for half an hour, and something in the music--or was it only fancy?--told him that her thoughts were occupied with him.
