used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
acumennounUS /əˈkjuːmən/
a tapering point
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
anew
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
(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 One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
Annabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
on or to one side
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
classesnounUS /ˈklæsəz/
plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
exceptionaladjectiveUS /ɪkˈsepʃənəl/
far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
exercisesnounUS /ˈeksərsaɪzəz/
plural of “exercise” — the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
Friday'snounUS /ˈfraɪdiz/
possessive form of “friday” — the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
FridaysnounUS /ˈfraɪdiz/
plural of “friday” — the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
geographynounUS /dʒiˈɑːɡrəfi/
study of the earth's surface; includes people's responses to topography and climate and soil and vegetation
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
the aggregate of past events
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
invariablyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbli/
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
immediately past
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
opposingadjectiveUS /əˈpoʊzɪŋ/
characterized by active hostility
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
Preston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
with little or no delay
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
randomadjectiveUS /ˈrændəm/
lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
recessverbUS /rɪˈses/
put into a recess
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
a thing, without saying which
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
SPELLEDverbUS /speld/
past form of “spell” — orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
spellingnounUS /ˈspelɪŋ/
forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
sprungverbUS /sprʌŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
successive (without a break)
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
happening unexpectedly
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
WednesdaysnounUS /ˈwenzdeɪz/
plural of “wednesday” — the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading ENGLISH AS SHE IS SPELLED The last half hour before recess on Wednesdays and Fridays was the time set aside for the spelling matches.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading So suddenly had the command been sprung upon her that, whatever knowledge poor Annabel might have possessed five seconds before, promptly flew straight out of her head, and she answered:
at the time that
From this reading One morning, immediately after the opening exercises were concluded, Miss Preston rang her bell, and, when the girls were all attention, said:
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
which person or people
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
in the company of; together with
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "It will be well for those girls who are to lead the opposing sides of the spelling match to-day to choose with exceptional acumen--Annabel, spell that word!"
the words that are spoken
From this reading On Wednesday the words were chosen at random, sometimes from history, sometimes from geography, again from something which the classes had been reading; but Friday's words were invariably a surprise.
