used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
Ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
depressingadjectiveUS /dɪˈpresɪŋ/
causing sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
loosenverbUS /ˈluːsən/
make loose or looser
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
MelbournenounUS /ˈmelbərn/
a resort town in east central Florida
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
a form of address for a man
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
Oliver'snounUS /ˈɑːlɪvərz/
possessive form of “oliver” — United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
on one occasion
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
a human being
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
proposalnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
rareradjectiveUS /ˈrerər/
comparative of “rare” — not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Ay, it's been a bad job,” said David.
not in physical motion
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
Teesdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
a special situation
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
ultimateadjectiveUS /ˈʌltəmət/
furthest or highest in degree or order; utmost or extreme
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were driving into Melbourne, the old couple together, and such a thing was rare.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Moreover, the proposal had been Mrs. Teesdale's, which was rarer still.
which person or people
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “But it's over and done with now—that's one thing.”
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading He meant the whole matter, from Mr. Oliver's letter about Miriam to this young lady's ultimate depressing visit; but in his heart he was thinking more of things and a person that came in between; and he glanced in wonder at his wife, who for once had missed an opening to loosen her lips and rail at that person and those things.
