used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
rid of obstructions
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
and nothing more
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
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 "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
open-mouthed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
express in words
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
screamedverbUS /skriːmd/
past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
stammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
Th-then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
precisely as stated
From this reading "I said," said Billie, speaking very distinctly and enjoying the sensation she had caused, "that Aunt Beatrice left me a haunted house."
VioletnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading OLD FURNITURE Laura screamed and Violet jumped clear out of her seat.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
Wh-what
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
at the time that
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "Th-then I wasn't dreaming," stammered Violet, while Laura just continued to stare.
wide-eyedadjective
exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity
From this reading They stared at Billie, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Wh-what did you say?" asked Laura when she could get her breath.
