used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
alchemynounUS /ˈælkəmi/
the way two individuals relate to each other
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
Carolyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
child'snounUS /tʃaɪldz/
possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
greatly pleased
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
delightsnounUS /dɪˈlaɪts/
plural of “delight” — a feeling of extreme pleasure or satisfaction
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
dimensionnounUS /dɪˈmenʃən/
the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
divisible by two
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
a young female
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
third-person singular of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
involvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlvd/
connected by participation or association or use
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
and nothing more
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
LairdnounUS /lerd/
a landowner
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
May'snounUS /meɪz/
possessive form of “may” — the month following April and preceding June
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
nine-tenths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
not any; not one
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
perpetualadjectiveUS /pərˈpetʃuːəl/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
a human being
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
problemsnounUS /ˈprɑːbləmz/
plural of “problem” — a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
any competition
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
on the contrary
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
scientificadjectiveUS /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/
of or relating to the practice of science
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
secretsnounUS /ˈsiːkrəts/
plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading The mystery of the fourth dimension, or perpetual motion, or the problems of alchemy thrill the scientific mind no more than do their neighbours' secrets interest the ordinary person.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
precisely as stated
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A GREAT DEAL HAPPENS There was a mystery about the pale lady, and a mystery delighted Carolyn May just as it delights something like nine-tenths of the human race.
wealthyadjectiveUS /ˈwelθi/
having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
From this reading Even if she had been poor, Laird, as the pale lady called him, must have come of wealthy people; or how had she met him at the party given by her friends?
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The little girl wanted very much to know why the pale lady's husband was so poor.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Now, this was rather an involved thought for a little girl to work out in her mind; but Carolyn May's was not an ordinary child's mind.
