used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
(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 was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
the act of burning something
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
detainverbUS /dɪˈteɪn/
deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
dinner-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
apart from; not including
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
fashionablyadverbUS /ˈfæʃənəbli/
in a fashionable manner
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading "We'll wait five minutes for her," thought Mrs. Lambert.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "We'll wait five minutes for her," thought Mrs. Lambert.
fretverbUS /fret/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
the act of departing
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
hasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
and nothing more
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
LambertnounUS /ˈlæmbərt/
a cgs unit of illumination equal to the brightness of a perfectly diffusing surface that emits or reflects one lumen per square centimeter
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
Lamberts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
social deportment
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
Marchant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
she's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
teachernounUS /ˈtiːtʃər/
a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
ThanksgivingnounUS /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/
fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "We'll wait five minutes for her," thought Mrs. Lambert.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
ticknounUS /tɪk/
a metallic tapping sound
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
tock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
unpopularadjectiveUS /ˌʌnˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with disfavor or lacking general approval
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
precisely as stated
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading "We'll wait five minutes for her," thought Mrs. Lambert.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Thanksgiving Day, and just three minutes to the dinner-hour at the Lamberts', and all the guests had arrived except the one that Elsie had bidden.
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll wait five minutes for her," thought Mrs. Lambert.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Elsie gave a little start at this, and, laughing nervously, began to talk to Joe Marchant, while tick, tock, the clock beat out the time.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Don't fret, Elsie," whispered Mrs. Lambert to her, as she noted the two red spots burning in her cheeks and her anxious glances toward the clock,--"don't fret; she's probably going to be fashionably exact on the stroke of the hour."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading "If there hasn't been an accident to detain her, she's very rude, and certainly not fit to be a teacher of _manners_, and I don't wonder she's unpopular with the girls."
