used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/
join tongue and groove, in carpentry
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
impertinencenoun
an impudent statement
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
impertinentadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrtənənt/
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
a particular point in time
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
as might be expected
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
NEIGHBORSnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading NEW NEIGHBORS.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading NEW NEIGHBORS.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
and nothing more
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
Powysnoun
British writer of essays; one of three literary brothers (1884-1939)
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
cut with a saw
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
having a supporting base
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
required or under orders
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
Swayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
thievesnounUS /θiːvz/
plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
a special situation
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
at the time that
From this reading Not that he cared in the least for Mrs. Swayne; but naturally he took a little interest in the--child--he supposed she was only a child--a little light thing that felt like a feather when he carried her in out of the snow.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Perhaps one of the reasons why Jack was out of temper at this particular moment was that Mrs. Swayne had been impertinent to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He _had_ carried her in, and he “took an interest” in her; and why he should be met with impertinence when he asked how the little creature was, was more than Jack could understand.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The very morning of the day on which he saw young Powys first, he had been answered by Mrs. Swayne standing in front of her door, and pulling it close behind her, as if she was afraid of thieves or something.
