used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading I'm crazy to send a letter home."
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
dislikenounUS /dɪˈslaɪk/
an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
drummedverbUS /drʌmd/
inflected form of “drum” — make a rhythmic sound
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
Ellen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/
in tiny pieces
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
foldsnounUS /foʊldz/
plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading I'm crazy to send a letter home."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
irritableadjectiveUS /ˈɪrətəbəl/
easily irritated or annoyed
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
and nothing more
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading I'm crazy to send a letter home."
Lila's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
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 We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
mildestadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪldəst/
superlative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
on one occasion
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
screwedverbUS /skruːd/
past form of “screw” — have sexual intercourse with
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading I'm crazy to send a letter home."
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
shrugnounUS /ʃrʌɡ/
a gesture involving the shoulders
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
silkenadjectiveUS /ˈsɪlkən/
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I'm crazy to send a letter home."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Lila's thin shoulders gave an irritable little shrug under the silken folds of her dressing-gown, and her finely cut features screwed for an instant into an expression of impatient dislike.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
We've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading JUST THIS ONCE Ellen drummed restlessly on the window pane.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I'm 'most sure it would not matter just this once.
but in spite of that
From this reading We've had the mildest sort of a fever, and I don't see yet why they keep us shut up so long away off here.
