used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
Alcott's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
Breynton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
browsings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
Child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
Dinsmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
formativenounUS /ˈfɔːrmətɪv/
minimal language unit that has a syntactic (or morphological) function
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
set up or found
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
goody-good
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
GypsynounUS /ˈdʒɪpsi/
a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
heroinesnounUS /ˈheroʊənz/
plural of “heroine” — the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
influencesnounUS /ˈɪnfluːənsɪz/
plural of “influence” — a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
and nothing more
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
Mad-cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
post-Mother-Goose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
potentadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊtənt/
having great influence
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
readsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “read” — something that is read
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/
past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy
From this reading How I have cried over the Elsie books and rejoiced over the Gypsy books!
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
move stealthily
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
Sunday-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
TWIGverbUS /twɪɡ/
branch out in a twiglike manner
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
on a floor above
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
weepverbUS /wiːp/
shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mad-cap Gypsy Breynton and pious Elsie Dinsmore were real beings to me.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading My post-Mother-Goose reading consisted largely of the Child’s Bible, later the Bible itself, and the goody-good Sunday-school books, two or three of Miss Alcott’s, and whatever else I could find in my browsings.
at the time that
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
woesnounUS /woʊz/
plural of “woe” — misery resulting from affliction
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Sunday afternoons I would read by the west window with the door leading upstairs at just a convenient distance, so that when I found my emotions getting the upper hand, I could at one step open the door, slip upstairs and weep in secret over the woes of my little heroines.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading “AS TWIG IS BENT” The books one reads in childhood and youth are, of course, among the most potent formative influences of those periods.
