used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
(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 I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
boarding-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
cliquenounUS /kliːk/
an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
congregateverbUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəɡeɪt/
come together, usually for a purpose
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
dishonourableadjective
lacking honor or integrity; deserving dishonor
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
fascinatedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtəd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
brought together in one place
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
intentionallyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtenʃənəli/
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
immediately past
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
hear with intention
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
take the midday meal
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
of an obscure nature
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
the middle of the day
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
many times at short intervals
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
on one occasion
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
outbreaknounUS /ˈaʊtbreɪk/
a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
overhearverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhiːr/
hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
Platt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
not in physical motion
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
study-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
in or at that place or location
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
on a floor above
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It was about a week before the Christmas vacation that my last outbreak at boarding-school occurred.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
at the time that
From this reading It was one noon after lunch when I was passing through the hall on my way upstairs.
in or at the place that
From this reading I had to go by Sarah Platt's room, where the little clique of girls I had once longed to be one of, used often to congregate after luncheon before the two o'clock study-hour.
which person or people
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I never allowed myself to listen intentionally, but the conversation of those girls, who were still strangers to me, always fascinated me, and I confess I used to overhear all that I could without being dishonourable.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading They were gathered there to-day, talking and laughing together in their usual mysterious manner, and I wondered vaguely as I went by, what they were discussing now.
