used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
assistantsnounUS /əˈsɪstənts/
plural of “assistant” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
cattle-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
firmamentnoun
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She yearned for a long talk with him.
Friedrich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
a person of German nationality
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She yearned for a long talk with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
Letitia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She yearned for a long talk with him.
engage in
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
observatorynounUS /əbˈzɜːrvətɔːri/
a building designed and equipped to observe astronomical phenomena
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
pampasnounUS /ˈpæmpəz/
the vast grassy plains of northern Argentina
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
Pestel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now she intended to make it the scene of her meeting with Friedrich Pestel.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She yearned for a long talk with him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Letitia had often asked to see the observatory, but Stephen had always refused to let her visit it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two miles from the estate there was an observatory in the lonely pampas.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A wealthy German cattle-man had built it, and now a German professor with his two assistants lived there and watched the firmament.
yearnedverbUS /jɜːrnd/
past form of “yearn” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading She yearned for a long talk with him.
