used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
(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 Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
in a state of sleep
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/
plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
couchnounUS /kaʊtʃ/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
Evelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
Jasper'snounUS /ˈdʒæspərz/
possessive form of “jasper” — an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
lainverbUS /leɪn/
inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
lovinglyadverbUS /ˈlʌvɪŋli/
with fondness; with love
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
in the near future
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
very small
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to her that in this tiny room at the back of the kitchen she was in a sort of prison.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was pleased, excited, relieved, but at the same time she had a curious sense of disappointment about her.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Now, all might have gone well for the little conspirators but for Evelyn herself.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
at the time that
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
a Caucasian
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But when the girls, tired with talking, tired with the spirit of adventure, had lain down—Sylvia in Jasper’s bed, and Evelyn in the new little white couch which had been got so lovingly ready for her—Sylvia, tired out, soon fell asleep; but Evelyn could not rest.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Her heart beat fast; she wondered what was happening.
