used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
for the reason that
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Lessons not Learned from Books.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
travel across or pass over
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
dollsnounUS /dɑːlz/
plural of “doll” — a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
Edith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lessons not Learned from Books.
death of a person
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Lessons not Learned from Books.
LessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading Lessons not Learned from Books.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lessons not Learned from Books.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
To recall to mind.
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
sagelyadverb
in a wise manner
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Of course she was cross because she felt so ill," said Kate, sagely.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
unkindadjectiveUS /ənˈkaɪnd/
lacking kindness
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
vexedadjectiveUS /vekst/
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I expect we should have been as bad.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was dreadful to know that Cousin Edith was so ill, and then to remember how vexed they had been with her on Friday, and what unkind things they had said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE children had expected to spend a happy evening in dressing their dolls; but now it was with grave, sad faces that they set about their work.
