used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
anew
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
to come or go into
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
a young female
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
GrandmanounUS /ˈɡrændmɑː/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
half-starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
immediately past
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
pantrynounUS /ˈpæntri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
a full supply
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
POLLY'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
Roxy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
get by special effort
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
a person, without saying who
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
not in physical motion
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
in or at that place or location
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
tiptoedverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊd/
past form of “tiptoe” — walk on one's toes
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a moment the little girl stood still, listening intently, but the house itself seemed to be taking a nap in the mid-afternoon quiet of the June day.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
trustedadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstɪd/
(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading POLLY’S RETURN There was not a sound in the quiet kitchen as Roxy entered.
well-scrubbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ll have plenty of time,” and she tiptoed across the well-scrubbed floor toward the pantry.
which person or people
From this reading Before she tried the door she again looked about the room cautiously, remembering her promise to the half-starved man who had trusted her, and fearful that someone might enter the kitchen before she could secure food and escape.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mother and Grandma will be in their rooms now,” thought Roxy; “they won’t expect me home before the last of the afternoon.
