used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FALSE IDENTIFICATION.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
Earl'snounUS /ɜːrlz/
possessive form of “earl” — a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading A FALSE IDENTIFICATION.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
destroyed or killed
From this reading "Gone!"
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
huntedadjectiveUS /ˈhʌntəd/
reflecting the fear or terror of one who is hunted
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
IDENTIFICATIONnounUS /aɪˌdentəfəˈkeɪʃən/
the act of designating or identifying something
From this reading A FALSE IDENTIFICATION.
of great significance or value
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
a human being
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
retraceverbUS /riˈtreɪs/
to go back over again
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
rewrittenverbUS /riˈrɪtən/
inflected form of “rewrite” — write differently; alter the writing of
From this reading He cared nothing for the message,--that could easily be rewritten,--but the letter was highly important.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
Spruceville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not finding it about his person, he commenced to retrace his steps with his eyes on the ground.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading That was the single word which dropped from Earl's lips as he stood at the window of the telegraph office at Spruceville and hunted for the missing letter from his Uncle Foster.
