used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/
forced or compelled or put in force
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
the act of departing
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
Haddo's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have left them in my room," she said.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have left them in my room," she said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I have left them in my room," she said.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
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 RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
lessonsnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I have left them in my room," she said.
not any; not one
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
on one occasion
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
RAYnounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
try to get or reach
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
SpecialitynounUS /ˌspeʃiˈælɪti/
an asset of special worth or utility
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RAY OF HOPE A few minutes later the Speciality girls had left Mrs. Haddo's room.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading Martha said at once that she was going to seek the twins.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But an enforced holiday of this kind was no pleasure to any of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were to be no lessons that day; therefore they could spend their time as they liked best.
