used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
(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 Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
not accessible to view
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
conspiredverbUS /kənˈspaɪərd/
past form of “conspire” — engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
DickienounUS /ˈdɪki/
a small third seat in the back of an old-fashioned two-seater
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
eggnounUS /eɡ/
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
engage in
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
easily agitated
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
on one occasion
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
and nothing more
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
oppressedadjectiveUS /əˈprest/
burdened psychologically or mentally
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Fanny was really nervous; all the events of the day had conspired to make her so.
spidernounUS /ˈspaɪdər/
predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
terrifyverbUS /ˈterəfaɪ/
fill with terror; frighten greatly
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
in or at the place that
From this reading It was really awful to be quite alone in a room where a spider nearly the size of an egg had concealed himself.
which person or people
From this reading She, who, as a rule, knew nothing whatever about nerves, was oppressed by them now.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A TIME OF DANGER Fanny was left alone with Dickie.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Dickie would only come out and show himself Fanny thought she could fight him; but he was at once big enough to bite and terrify her up to the point of danger, and small enough effectually to hide his presence.
