used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
craftyadjectiveUS /ˈkræfti/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
Dunripple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
at any time
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
the literary culture
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
Loring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
Marrable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
information about recent and important events
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
not any; not one
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
ParsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
reticentadjectiveUS /ˈretɪsənt/
temperamentally disinclined to talk
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
express in words
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
express in words
From this reading How he came by his news he did not say, but he had ever so much to tell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Parson John Marrable, though he said nothing in his letters to Dunripple about the doings of his nephew at Loring, was by no means equally reticent in his speech at Loring as to the doings at Dunripple.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In his way, Parson John was a crafty man, who was always doing a turn of business.
(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 And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?
which person or people
From this reading And Miss Marrable, who knew him well, was aware that his news was not simple gossip, but was told with an object.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF?