used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading John had had a hard and lonely young life.
(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 He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
Elise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
yet to be or coming
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading John had had a hard and lonely young life.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading John had had a hard and lonely young life.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading John had had a hard and lonely young life.
Mambles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
joined in matrimony
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
not any; not one
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
observableadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvəbəl/
capable of being seen or noticed
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
orphanedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrfənd/
deprived of parents by death or desertion
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
ParadisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
ploddedverbUS /ˈplɑːdɪd/
inflected form of “plod” — walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
in a serious manner
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
shamblesnounUS /ˈʃæmbəlz/
a condition of great disorder
From this reading He had seen and read of the death of all his friends and come out of the shambles with one arm, and no observable future.
sharpestadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpəst/
superlative of “sharp” — (of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He had plodded seriously through an orphaned childhood and into the sharpest crisis in history.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading John had been married six weeks.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Four of them had been spent with an Angel in Paradise, and two of them at Mambles with Elise.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading John had had a hard and lonely young life.
