used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
Acia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
in actual fact
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
crab-apple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
set up or found
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
Gagin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
loudlyadverbUS /ˈlaʊdli/
with relatively high volume
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
roused to anger
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
nettlesnounUS /ˈnetəlz/
plural of “nettle” — any of numerous plants having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact (especially of the genus Urtica or family Urticaceae)
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
overgrownadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈɡroʊn/
covered with growing plants
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
recklessnessnounUS /ˈrekləsnəs/
the trait of giving little thought to danger
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
reproached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
a special situation
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She turned and faced us, laughing, but did not move.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the projecting ledge, Acia actually was sitting.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Gagin shook his finger at her, while I loudly reproached her for her recklessness.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading ‘Why, it’s Acia!’ cried Gagin; ‘the mad thing.’
in the company of; together with
From this reading We went through the gates and found ourselves in a small courtyard, half overgrown with crab-apple trees and nettles.
