used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
anew
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
a young female
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
HanknounUS /hæŋk/
a coil of rope or wool or yarn
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
easily agitated
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
niece'snounUS /ˈniːsɪz/
possessive form of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
signaledverbUS /ˈsɪɡnəld/
past form of “signal” — communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
not in physical motion
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
TELEGRAMnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TELEGRAM A pale Hilda, still plainly on nervous strain, sat at the breakfast table next morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Uncle Hank—up and out an hour or two earlier—had ridden in for the meal.
Valeria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
Valeria's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
waitressnounUS /ˈweɪtrəs/
a woman waiter
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
whiskedverbUS /wɪskt/
past form of “whisk” — move somewhere quickly
From this reading Miss Valeria frowned, signaled again sharply; the telegram—it could be nothing else—was whisked away from her niece’s eager fingers and properly presented.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Aunt Valeria’s whole attention went to the new waitress she was training.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading At a signal from her, the girl brought a yellow envelope on a tray and offered it to Hilda—from the wrong side.
