used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
Demar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
GirardnounUS /dʒərˈɑːrd/
United States financier (born in France) who helped finance the War of 1812 (1750-1831)
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
the act of departing
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
Harry's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
intense and profound fear
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
intoxicatedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtɑːksəkeɪtɪd/
stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
set down according to a plan
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
MemphisnounUS /ˈmemfəs/
largest city of Tennessee; located in southwestern Tennessee on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
information about recent and important events
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
not any; not one
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
paralyzedadjectiveUS /ˈperəlaɪzd/
affected with paralysis
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
PhiladelphianounUS /ˌfɪləˈdelfiə/
the largest city in Pennsylvania; located in the southeastern part of the state on the Delaware river; site of Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed; site of the University of Pennsylvania
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
postmarknounUS /ˈpoʊstmɑːrk/
a cancellation mark stamped on mail by postal officials; indicates the post office and date of mailing
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
move upward
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
cut with a saw
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
staggeredverbUS /ˈstæɡərd/
past form of “stagger” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
stewardnounUS /ˈstuːərd/
someone who manages property or other affairs for someone else
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I saw from the postmark that it was from Memphis, and I recognized the handwriting as Harry’s; I lost no time, of course, in opening it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
at the time that
From this reading “One morning some three months after my arrival in Philadelphia, I was seated at the breakfast table of the Girard Hotel, when a servant laid a letter on my plate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before I had read it half through I was perfectly paralyzed with horror, and made an effort to rise from my seat with a view of going immediately to my room.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I staggered like a man intoxicated, and would have fallen to the floor, but that the steward caught me and kindly led me from the room.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “‘Your letter brings you bad news, I fear, Mr. Demar!
