used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
a line of approach
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
befellverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
disputeverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/
take exception to
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
an old word for “before”
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
a ceremonial dinner party for many people
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
FUNERALnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/
a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
temporary military shelter
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
most important element
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
migrateverbUS /ˈmaɪɡreɪt/
move from one country or region to another and settle there
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
not any; not one
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
PAUMOTUAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
pigstynounUS /ˈpɪɡstaɪ/
a pen for swine
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
Rotoava
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A PAUMOTUAN FUNERAL No, I had no guess of these men's terrors.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading At least they had remained behind; and it thus befell that they were invited to my feast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Perhaps they were too old to migrate with the others; perhaps they were too poor, and had no possessions to dispute.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A little apart in the main avenue of Rotoava, in a low hut of leaves that opened on a small enclosure, like a pigsty on a pen, an old man dwelt solitary with his aged wife.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I had received ere that a hint, if I had understood; and the occasion was a funeral.
