used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
abusedadjectiveUS /əˈbjuːzd/
used improperly or excessively especially drugs
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
(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 It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
(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 Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
divisible by two
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
a young female
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
heirloomsnounUS /ˈerluːmz/
plural of “heirloom” — (law) any property that is considered by law or custom as inseparable from an inheritance is inherited with that inheritance
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
and nothing more
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
nationalitiesnounUS /ˌnæʃəˈnælɪtiz/
plural of “nationality” — people having common origins or traditions and often comprising a nation
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
Nicky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
pathsnounUS /pæðz/
plural of “path” — a course of conduct
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Nicky was so interesting, and he seemed to be so abused.
sortingnounUS /ˈsɔːrtɪŋ/
an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
a special situation
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was this instinct of sympathy, so natural to all generous girls, that was leading Barbara into tangled paths.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even the fun of sorting out the old heirlooms was not enough to blot out her anxiety.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I believe now,” she admitted, “that it isn’t the best thing for a girl to get too interested in strangers: we can never understand them, especially those of other nationalities.”
at the time that
From this reading WHEN A GIRL THINKS HARD She just couldn’t get Nicky off her mind.
