used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
a-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
in the past
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
eagerly desirous
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
a female human offspring
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
Drummond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
great-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
half-frightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
hasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
immediately past
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
lilacnounUS /ˈlaɪlæk/
any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
a female domestic
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
master'snounUS /ˈmæstərz/
possessive form of “master” — an artist of consummate skill
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
a form of address for a man
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
not any; not one
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
Norah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
go across or through
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
by chance
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/
(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
carry out
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading 'The studio door is open, mamma,' said little Norah dancing in before her mother, through the lilac bushes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
topcoatnoun
a heavy coat worn over clothes in winter
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 'Then papa must have come in,' she said, and ran up the steps to the door, which was opened before she could knock by an anxious, half-frightened maid.
which person or people
From this reading 'Mr Drummond has come in?' she said, in her anxiety, hasting to pass Jane, who held fast by the door.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The words seemed to take a weight off Helen's heart.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading 'No, ma'am, please, ma'am; but Rebecca and me see a man about not five minutes ago, and I can't find master's topcoat as was a-hanging in the hall--Rebecca says, ma'am, as she thought she see--' 'Papa has not been home after all,' Helen said to her little daughter; 'perhaps Mr Drummond wore his great-coat last night, Jane.
