used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
(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 It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
ArgusnounUS /ˈɑːrɡəs/
(Greek mythology) a giant with 100 eyes; was guardian of the heifer Io and was slain by Hermes
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
BoxingnounUS /ˈbɑːksɪŋ/
fighting with the fists
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
deliverynounUS /dɪˈlɪvəri/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
put on clothes
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
being one more than ten
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
opinion or judgment
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
forenoonnoun
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
not accessible to view
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
and nothing more
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the literary culture
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
middle-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
as might be expected
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
information about recent and important events
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
not any; not one
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
tableclothnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
a covering spread over a dining table
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
Teesdale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The time was half-past eleven in the forenoon of Boxing Day, and the daily delivery of letters had just taken place.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Missy was seated on the sofa, and all of her but the top of her head and the bottom of her dress, with a finger or two of each hand, was hidden behind the Argus newspaper.
unseasonableadjective
not in keeping with (and usually undesirable for) the season
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading At length he raised a tired face from his bad news, and let his eyes rest for the comfort of his spirit upon the red head and fringe of his solitary companion in the parlour.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
which person or people
From this reading Mr. Teesdale sat at his end of the old green tablecloth, reading a singularly unseasonable communication from that middle-man who bought the milk but was never in a position to pay for it.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was naturally a little later than usual, but Mr. Teesdale wished with all his heart that there had been no delivery at all.
