used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
how long something has existed
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/
past form of “devour” — destroy completely
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
dismallyadverbUS /ˈdɪzməli/
in a cheerless manner
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
being one more than seven
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
ELDESTadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading MY ELDEST SISTER.
at any time
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
ferventlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrvəntli/
with passionate fervor
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
start firing a weapon
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
gloamingnounUS /ˈɡloʊmɪŋ/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
kneltverbUS /nelt/
inflected form of “kneel” — rest one's weight on one's knees
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
lionsnounUS /ˈlaɪənz/
plural of “lion” — large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
martyrnounUS /ˈmɑːrtər/
one who suffers for the sake of principle
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY ELDEST SISTER.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
and nothing more
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
sagenounUS /seɪdʒ/
a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
shriekedadjectiveUS /ʃriːkt/
uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror
From this reading She shrieked dismally for several hours afterwards.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading MY ELDEST SISTER.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the age of eight she had put her hand into a blazing fire in order to die the death of a Christian martyr.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My eldest sister was only fourteen, but she was already, had ever been, a sage and a saint.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Another time, staying with relatives in the country, she knelt in the gloaming in a big barn, praying with fervently closed eyes, in the hopes of being devoured by lions.
