used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She never could be sure.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She never could be sure.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
defenselessadjectiveUS /dɪˈfensləs/
lacking protection or support
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
Disbrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
set up or found
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
Laurie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
the act of departing
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never could be sure.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
recognizeverbUS /ˈrekəɡnaɪz/
accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
cut with a saw
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She never could be sure.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She never could be sure.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
express in words
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
undertakernounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkər/
one whose business is the management of funerals
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Was it a long time—weary hours and hours—before Annie Laurie found her way down the stairs?
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then she saw that it was Mr. Disbrow, the undertaker, and realized what his task had been.
in or at the place that
From this reading For a second she felt like rushing at him to tell him that he, a stranger, should not be in there—in that sacred chamber where her father lay dead and defenseless.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A man, whom she did not at first recognize, was leaving her father’s room.
