Chapter IV · Chapter 4

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

quickly and without warning

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

(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 their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

for the reason that

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

intentionally conceived

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Did Mademoiselle really say, "We will go out?"

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading We will go out."

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

immediately past

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

roused to anger

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico

From this reading Did Mademoiselle really say, "We will go out?"

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

a woman who is the custodian of children

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

a child's room for a baby

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

on one occasion

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading We will go out."

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

a state of extreme confusion and disorder

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

by chance

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Did Mademoiselle really say, "We will go out?"

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

express in words

From this reading Did Mademoiselle really say, "We will go out?"

a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.

causing difficulty or annoyance

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

under normal conditions

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

precisely as stated

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We will go out."

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading She had been their governess for six weeks now, and during all that time had not once been outside the street door.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading We will go out."

the words that are spoken

From this reading The children, engaged in turning their nursery into a very fair imitation of Pandemonium and in driving the unhappy nursemaid nearly mad, stopped their various operations at these words from their governess as she entered, and stared at her--partly perhaps because they were not conscious of having been less troublesome than they usually were, but more because of her last sentence.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine.