used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading DARK DAYS.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading DARK DAYS.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
distributedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/
spread out or scattered about or divided up
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
divisible by two
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
LavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
midsummernounUS /ˈmɪdˈsʌmər/
June 21, when the sun is at its northernmost point
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
not any; not one
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
prizesnounUS /ˈpraɪzəz/
plural of “prize” — something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
tidingsnounUS /ˈtaɪdɪŋz/
information about recent and important events
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The midsummer holiday was now close at hand, but no one spoke of it or thought of it.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading A whole week had passed, and there were no tidings whatever of little Nan or of Annie Forest.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading Mrs. Willis told the teachers that the prizes should be distributed, but she said she could invite no guests and could allow of no special festivities.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading No one at Lavender House had heard a word about them; the police came and went, detectives even arrived from London, but there were no traces whatever of the missing children.
