adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/
the state of being absent
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
bannersnounUS /ˈbænərz/
plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
basket-ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
campusnounUS /ˈkæmpəs/
a field on which the buildings of a university are situated
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
classnounUS /klæs/
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
crowdverbUS /kraʊd/
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
DISAPPOINTMENTSnounUS /dɪsəˈpɔɪntmənts/
plural of “disappointment” — a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
emblemsnounUS /ˈembləmz/
plural of “emblem” — special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
languidlyadverb
in a languid and lethargic manner
From this reading The crowd watched these triumphal progresses languidly.
limp-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
linesnounUS /laɪnz/
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
marksnounUS /mɑːrks/
English businessman who created a retail chain (1888-1964)
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
matchverbUS /mætʃ/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
ostentationnounUS /ˌɔːstenˈteɪʃən/
a gaudy outward display
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
pignounUS /pɪɡ/
domestic swine
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
progressesnounUS /ˈprɑːɡresəz/
plural of “progress” — gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading The crowd watched these triumphal progresses languidly.
rain-coats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
scarfsnounUS /skɑːrfs/
plural of “scarf” — a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
self-consciousnessnounUS /ˌselfˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/
embarrassment deriving from the feeling that others are critically aware of you
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
sinuousadjectiveUS /ˈsɪnwəs/
curved or curving in and out
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
soughtadjectiveUS /sɔːt/
that is looked for
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
tailedadjectiveUS /teɪld/
having a tail of a specified kind; often used in combination
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The crowd watched these triumphal progresses languidly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
triumphaladjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfəl/
relating to or celebrating a triumph
From this reading The crowd watched these triumphal progresses languidly.
trulyadverbUS /ˈtruːli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
usher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
wandnounUS /wɑːnd/
a rod used by a magician or water diviner
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DISAPPOINTMENTS It was the day of the great basket-ball game.
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The crowd watched these triumphal progresses languidly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Its interest was reserved for the other girls, pig tailed and in limp-hanging rain-coats, who also sought the back door, but with that absence of ostentation and self-consciousness which invariably marks the truly great.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In half an hour more the gymnasium would be opened to the crowd that waited in two long, sinuous lines, gay with scarfs, banners and class emblems, outside the doors.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading Now and then a pretty girl, dressed all in white, with a paper hat, green or yellow as the case might be, and an usher's wand to match, darted out of one of the campus houses and fluttered over to the back door of the gymnasium.
