used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
applaudingverbUS /əˈplɔːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “applaud” — clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
auntsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
displacedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪst/
past form of “displace” — cause to move, usually with force or pressure
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
gradualadjectiveUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəl/
proceeding in small stages
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
insignificancenounUS /ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkəns/
the quality of having little or no significance
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
Jenny'snounUS /ˈdʒeniz/
possessive form of “jenny” — United States architect who designed the first skyscraper in which a metal skeleton was used (1832-1907)
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
immediately past
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
staying power
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
and nothing more
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
playgroundnounUS /ˈpleɪɡraʊnd/
an area where many people go for recreation
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
profoundlyadverbUS /proʊˈfaʊndli/
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
Raeburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
railingsnounUS /ˈreɪlɪŋz/
plural of “railing” — a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
cut with a saw
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
an educational institution
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
get by special effort
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
semicirclenoun
a plane figure with the shape of half a circle
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
shockedadjectiveUS /ʃɑːkt/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mrs. Raeburn was more than shocked: she was profoundly alarmed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had faded into a gradual and secure insignificance, only momentarily displaced by the death of Aunt Fanny.
unlikelyadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪkli/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was unlikely that Jenny's dancing could always be kept a secret.
at the time that
From this reading The day came at last when her mother, in passing the playground of the school, looked over the railings and saw her daughter's legs above a semicircle of applauding children.
a late time of life
From this reading The visit of the aunts rose up before her like a ghost from the heart of forgotten years.
