used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
boredomnounUS /ˈbɔːrdəm/
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
distractionnounUS /dɪˈstrækʃən/
mental turmoil
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
drugsnounUS /drʌɡz/
plural of “drug” — a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
Emily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
HOnounUS /hoʊ/
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
From this reading SAIL--HO!
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
indulgeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒ/
give free rein to
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
most important element
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
march in a procession
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
menacedverbUS /ˈmenəst/
past form of “menace” — pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading SAIL--HO!
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
Stoughton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
succumbedverbUS /səˈkʌmd/
past form of “succumb” — consent reluctantly
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
swoopnounUS /swuːp/
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In her desperate loneliness and boredom Emily began occasionally to indulge in the main distraction of Stoughton--church.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On a Sunday late in March she went for the first time since Christmas.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her mother had succumbed to the drugs and had been really ill, so ill that Emily did not dare let herself admit the dread of desolation which menaced.
WINTER'SnounUS /ˈwɪntərz/
possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading WINTER’S swoop upon Stoughton that year was early and savage.
