used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
affirmativelyadverbUS /əˈfɜːrmətɪvli/
in an affirmative manner
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
AfricanounUS /ˈæfrəkɑː/
the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
backwaternounUS /ˈbækwɔːtər/
a body of water that was created by a flood or tide or by being held or forced back by a dam
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
Cecil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
Chacewater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
ClintonnounUS /ˈklɪntən/
wife of President Clinton and later a woman member of the United States Senate (1947-)
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
ConstablenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəl/
a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
command with authority
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
Driffield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
one or the other of two
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
imaginaryadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒəneri/
not based on fact; existing only in the imagination
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
indirectadjectiveUS /ˌɪndərˈekt/
having intervening factors or persons or influences
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
managesverbUS /ˈmænɪdʒɪz/
third-person singular of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
not any; not one
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
Ravensthorpe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
sauntered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
term of address for a man
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading “It must be a bit of a change from South Africa—settling down in this backwater.”
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sir Clinton Driffield, the new Chief Constable of the county, nodded affirmatively in reply to the question.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
a source of difficulty
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The characters, places, and events described in this book are entirely imaginary and have no connection, either direct or indirect, with any real persons, places, or events.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “One manages to be fairly comfortable; and it’s certainly been less trouble to fit up than it would have been if I’d taken a bigger place.
but in spite of that
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Fairy Houses “Got fixed up in your new house yet, Sir Clinton?” asked Cecil Chacewater, as they sauntered together up one of the paths in the Ravensthorpe grounds.
