used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
approvingnounUS /əˈpruːvɪŋ/
the formal act of approving
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
Danesbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
without deviation
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
a young female
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
HEAD-MISTRESS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HEAD-MISTRESS.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
go away from a place
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
not any; not one
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
and nothing more
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
on the contrary
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
only a very short time before
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
schoolmatesnounUS /ˈskuːlmeɪts/
plural of “schoolmate” — an acquaintance that you go to school with
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
shyverbUS /ʃaɪ/
start suddenly, as from fright
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HEAD-MISTRESS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The poor shy girl felt only too glad to leave behind her the cruel, staring, and now by no means approving eyes of her schoolmates.
precisely as stated
From this reading But Hester, shy as she was, could be very tenacious of an idea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading She had overheard several of their whispers, and felt rather alarmed at her own act.
which person or people
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Annie Forest had scarcely left the room before Miss Danesbury appeared with a message for Hester, who was to come with her directly to see Mrs. Willis.
