used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
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 The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
(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 |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
Claude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
consolationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəˈleɪʃən/
the comfort you feel when consoled in times of disappointment
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
ConsulnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəl/
a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
gotten under control
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the literary culture
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
engage in
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
respectingverbUS /riˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “respect” — regard highly; think much of
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
sharedadjectiveUS /ʃerd/
have in common; held or experienced in common
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
telegraphicadjective
of or relating to or transmitted by telegraph
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
precisely as stated
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
Westwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading She had done her best in her letter to comfort him--indeed, every word that it contained was designed to be a consolation to him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
produce a literary work
From this reading |It had fallen to her lot to write to Claude Westwood the letter which told him of the death of the brother to whom he had all his life been devoted.
the act of creating written works
From this reading Why, the very sight of her writing would make him feel that his grief was shared by at least one friend.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The letter had not, of course, been written in the strain of the letters which she had sent to him during the first few months after his arrival in Africa.
ZanzibarnounUS /ˈzænzəbɑːr/
an island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa; part of the United Republic of Tanzania
From this reading She knew that a telegraphic message had been sent to the Consul at Zanzibar respecting the death of Richard Westwood, the day after the news of the safety of Claude had reached England, so that he would not receive the first shock of the terrible news from her.
