used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
anew
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
aggravatingadjectiveUS /ˈæɡrəveɪtɪŋ/
making worse
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
announcesverbUS /əˈnaʊnsɪz/
third-person singular of “announce” — make known; make an announcement
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
brushesnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪz/
plural of “brush” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
chimneynounUS /ˈtʃɪmni/
a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
only a very short time before
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
irritationnounUS /ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
ominousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːmənəs/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
rumblingnounUS /ˈrʌmbəlɪŋ/
a loud low dull continuous noise
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
slipsnounUS /slɪps/
plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
express in speech
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
not in physical motion
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She feels so sure of herself; nevertheless, she has hardly been downstairs half a minute before she nearly slips into her old habits of irritation again.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
a source of difficulty
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
washesnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪz/
plural of “wash” — a thin coat of water-base paint
From this reading REAL TROUBLE Betty washes her face, brushes her hair, and runs downstairs; new courage thrilling her heart.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Now I really will keep my temper whatever happens; now love shall speak for me however aggravating things may be!"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading An ominous rumbling in the direction of the kitchen chimney announces that the sweep is still at work.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, now, indeed, I will try what love can do!
