used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
react verbally
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
briefestadjectiveUS /ˈbriːfəst/
superlative of “brief” — of short duration or distance
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
BuckeyenounUS /ˈbʌkaɪ/
the inedible nutlike seed of the horse chestnut
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
callersnounUS /ˈkɔːlərz/
plural of “caller” — a social or business visitor
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
campusnounUS /ˈkæmpəs/
a field on which the buildings of a university are situated
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
certaintynounUS /ˈsɜːrtənti/
the state of being certain
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
a small house with a single story
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
curvedadjectiveUS /kɜːrvd/
having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
facultynounUS /ˈfækəlti/
one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
grandfather'snounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/
an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
and nothing more
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
Kelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
a narrow way or road
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
a room where books are kept
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
thoroughfarenounUS /ˈθɜːroʊfer/
a public road from one place to another
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
tinkledverbUS /ˈtɪŋkəld/
past form of “tinkle” — make or emit a high sound
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
twistsnounUS /twɪsts/
plural of “twist” — an unforeseen development
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
at the time that
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
