used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
how long something has existed
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
continuancenounUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəns/
the act of continuing an activity without interruption
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
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 had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
NaplesnounUS /ˈneɪpəlz/
a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
scudded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
the state of being asleep
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
stagesnounUS /ˈsteɪdʒəz/
plural of “stage” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
carry out
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He owed this to his mother, he and his father both felt.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
create by training and teaching
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
twenty-thirdadjective
coming next after the twenty-second in position
From this reading She had been looking forward to it for so long, as at the time of his coming of age the festivities had been interrupted by the sudden death of his maternal grandfather, and the people had all been promised a continuance of them on this, his twenty-third birthday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next day there was a fresh breeze, and they scudded before it on to Naples.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading So, taking the journey by sufficiently easy stages, sleeping three nights on the way, they calculated to arrive on the eve of the event.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Here Paul seemed well enough to take train, and so arrive in England in time for his birthday.
