used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
the state of being absent
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
in the past
From this reading "How long ago was that?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Margaret asked.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
put on clothes
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
elaborately-embroidered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
coins made of gold
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How long ago was that?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
lacedadjectiveUS /leɪst/
closed with a lace
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
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 "How long ago was that?"
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
express in words
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very grand servant, in his elaborately-embroidered and gold laced native dress, said, "About twenty minutes ago, my lady.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
at the time that
From this reading When Margaret reached her hotel she was more than astonished to hear that in her absence her brother had called to see her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had left a message to say that he would return in half an hour.
