used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
(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 And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
appreciateverbUS /əˈpriːʃieɪt/
recognize with gratitude; be grateful for
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
terminate
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
lacking funds
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
BURGLARYnounUS /ˈbɜːrɡləri/
entering a building unlawfully with intent to commit a felony or to steal valuable property
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/
-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
campusnounUS /ˈkæmpəs/
a field on which the buildings of a university are situated
From this reading Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
deftlyadverbUS /ˈdeftli/
with dexterity; in a dexterous manner
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
dormitorynounUS /ˈdɔːrmətɔːri/
a college or university building containing living quarters for students
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
Emily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
set up or found
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
that which is pleasing or valuable or useful
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
incidentallyadverbUS /ˌɪnsɪˈdentəli/
introducing a different topic
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
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 Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
mendedverbUS /ˈmendɪd/
past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
information about recent and important events
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
Nora's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
raptadjectiveUS /ræpt/
feeling great rapture or delight
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
satisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌsætəˈsfæktri/
giving satisfaction
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
tea-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
express in words
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
three-corneredadjective
having three corners
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Betty left Emily in charge of the desk and hurried up to the campus.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And then she broke the good news instead, and incidentally, now that the danger was all over, explained how nearly the tea-room had come to ruin.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
at the time that
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When she got back, after an altogether satisfactory interview, she found Nora watching in rapt admiration while Emily deftly mended a three-cornered tear in the new blue silk skirt that had been the pride of Nora’s heart.
which person or people
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was bursting to tell Emily, who would especially appreciate the idea, about the new dormitory; but the president of Harding must be the first one to hear that news.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A ROMANCE AND A BURGLARY “GOODNESS, but I’m glad I haven’t got to break the news to you that I thought I must,” Betty told Emily, when she appeared late in the afternoon.
