used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
anew
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
bushnounUS /bʊʃ/
a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
grandchildnounUS /ˈɡrændtʃaɪld/
a child of your son or daughter
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
the act of departing
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
a woman of refinement
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading But I am beating about the bush, and not getting any nearer.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
on one occasion
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I have come, madam," he said after the first inquiries about the child had been answered, "on a particular business.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
showmannounUS /ˈʃoʊmən/
a person skilled at making effective presentations
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
Sidmouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
a special situation
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Three months later the showman again appeared at Sidmouth, but did not set up his box as usual.
Walsham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leaving it at his lodging, he went at once with his grandchild to Mrs. Walsham's.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It will seem a strange thing to you for a man like me to ask, but things are not quite as they seem, though I can't explain it now.
