used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
CincinnatinounUS /ˌsɪnsəˈnæti/
a city in southern Ohio on the Ohio river
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
dearly loved
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
the literary culture
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
nightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/
happening every night
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
reassuringadjectiveUS /ˌriːəˈʃʊrɪŋ/
restoring confidence and relieving anxiety
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
in or at that place or location
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
tidingsnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
male cat
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
a source of difficulty
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
two times
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading HOW THINGS WENT ON AT HOME.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwestwərd/
toward the west
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
in or at the place that
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Of course this was the dear, though humble, farmhouse, which had been his home.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Tom was slowly making his way westward, there was one place where tidings from him were anxiously awaited, and where nightly prayers were offered for his health and safe progress.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading Twice a week Tom wrote, and his letters were cheerful and reassuring.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "Don't trouble yourself about me, dear mother"--he wrote from Cincinnati.
