used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
agitated-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
bonnetnounUS /ˈbɑːnət/
a hat tied under the chin
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
boudoirnounUS /ˈbuːdɔɪr/
a lady's bedroom or private sitting room
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
BrucenounUS /bruːs/
Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
anything that covers or conceals
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
CONFESSIONSnounUS /kənˈfeʃənz/
plural of “confession” — an admission of misdeeds or faults
From this reading TWO CONFESSIONS.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
the act of departing
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
MissesnounUS /ˈmɪsəz/
plural of “miss” — a young female
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
on one occasion
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
packingnounUS /ˈpækɪŋ/
any material used especially to protect something
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
on the contrary
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
express in words
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
express in speech
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading TWO CONFESSIONS.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Susan and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Misses Bruce were there, and Mrs. Willis in her bonnet and cloak was hastily packing some things into a basket.
which person or people
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
WillisnounUS /ˈwɪlɪs/
English physician who was a pioneer in the study of the brain (1621-1675)
From this reading Hester dragged her startled and rather unwilling companion in through the front entrance, past some agitated-looking servants who stood about in the hall, and through the velvet curtains into Mrs. Willis' boudoir.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I--I must speak to you," said Hester, going up to her governess.
