used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
anyone's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
awryadjectiveUS /ərˈaɪ/
turned or twisted toward one side
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
a youthful male person
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
chargedadjectiveUS /tʃɑːrdʒd/
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
ColombonounUS /kəˈlʌmboʊ/
the capital and largest city of Sri Lanka; has one of the largest harbors in the world; is located on the western coast of the island of Ceylon
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
disconsolateadjective
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
a social unit living together
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
FORESTERnounUS /ˈfɔːrəstər/
English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
a man of refinement
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
Jo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
and nothing more
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
come together
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
not any; not one
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
REXnounUS /reks/
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
self-possessedadjective
in full control of your faculties
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
tear-stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading GETTING ON TERMS REX FORESTER arrived three days after Christmas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nothing was awry about him, and no tear seemed likely to find a lodging on his cheek.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
belonging to which person
From this reading A little boy of nine, whose family has just sailed in a body for Colombo, may be expected to be an object for anyone’s compassion, and Jean and Jo fully expected a tear-stained and disconsolate individual.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The twins drove in to meet him, well charged with pity.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Instead, there stepped from the train a perfectly self-possessed young gentleman.
