used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
(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 The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
accept an excuse for
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
obtain
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
Hilcrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
House-parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
and nothing more
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
Merideth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
millsnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
not any; not one
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
and nothing more
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading House-parties had always been popular at Hilcrest, and never more so than now.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
SpencersnounUS /ˈspensərz/
plural of “spencer” — English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
believed likely
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were no guests, however, on the Monday night that the mills caught fire.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The place was particularly cool and delightful in summer, and this season it was more so than usual.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So popular, indeed, were they that Margaret suspected them to be sometimes merely an excuse to gain her own presence at Hilcrest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Spencers remained at Hilcrest nearly all summer with only a short trip or two on the part of Mrs. Merideth and Ned.
