used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
echoingadjectiveUS /ˈekoʊɪŋ/
(of sounds) repeating by reflection
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
Edina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
magpiesnounUS /ˈmæɡpaɪz/
plural of “magpie” — long-tailed black-and-white crow that utters a raucous chattering call
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
RIOTnounUS /ˈraɪət/
a public act of violence by an unruly mob
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
express in words
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
unfriendlyadjectiveUS /ənˈfrendli/
not easy to understand or use
From this reading A RIOT The girls, chattering like a group of magpies and flinging curious, unfriendly glances toward Edina, had gone.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Billie paced restlessly up and down, up and down----suddenly she paused in front of Edina.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
in the company of; together with
From this reading Billie was alone with her in the big, silent, echoing gymnasium.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Edina sat on a bench, her hands clasped before her, a wooden, miserable figure.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Why didn’t you tell me, if you knew?
