used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
(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 "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
Brackenfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
dentistnounUS /ˈdentəst/
a person qualified to practice dentistry
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
DonanounUS /ˈdoʊnə/
a Spanish courtesy title or form of address for a woman
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
dressmakernounUS /ˈdresmeɪkər/
someone who makes or mends dresses
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
EasternounUS /ˈiːstər/
a Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ; celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
being one more than seven
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
EmpressnounUS /ˈempres/
a woman emperor or the wife of an emperor
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
EnchantedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈtʃæn.tɪd/
Filled with or placed under the influence of magical power or charm.
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
enquired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
a young female
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan watched the preparations wistfully.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
mascotnounUS /ˈmæskət/
a character, animal or object that is adopted by a team or group as a symbolic figure
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
monkeynounUS /ˈmʌŋki/
any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
on one occasion
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Joan watched the preparations wistfully.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
an educational institution
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
seriousnessnounUS /ˈsɪriəsnəs/
an earnest and sincere feeling
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
carry out
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
except if; if not
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "Not unless you could be used as a mascot or a school monkey," returned Marjorie.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Joan watched the preparations wistfully.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had a few days at home, mostly devoted to visits to the dentist and the dressmaker, and then boxes were once more packed, and they started off on the now familiar journey back to Brackenfield.
wistfullyadverbUS /ˈwɪstfəli/
in a wistful manner
From this reading Joan watched the preparations wistfully.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Enchanted Ground Marjorie and Dona spent the larger part of the Easter holidays with an aunt in the north.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you think the Empress would take a girl of eight?" she enquired in all seriousness.
