used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
ALLENnounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
BONITA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
chambermaidnoun
a maid who is employed to clean and care for bedrooms (now primarily in hotels)
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
convincingadjectiveUS /kənˈvɪnsɪŋ/
causing one to believe the truth of something
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did nothing extraordinary.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
docileadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːsəl/
willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
effaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
every person
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading She did nothing extraordinary.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
forty-eightadjective
being eight more than forty
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
moderatelyadverbUS /ˈmɑːdərətli/
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
not any; not one
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She did nothing extraordinary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
personalitynounUS /ˌpɜːrsəˈnælɪti/
the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
pupilnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
plural of “remark” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading In fact, she effaced herself as far as possible; yet from the first she caused a ripple in the placid current of the school, and her personality was distinctly felt.
Ryder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
an educational institution
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did nothing extraordinary.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
a special situation
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE QUEER LITTLE THING BONITA ALLEN was a queer little thing.
(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 The new pupil was quiet, docile, moderately well dressed, fairly good looking.
but in spite of that
From this reading Everyone in the school, from Miss Ryder down to the chambermaid, had made remarks to that effect before the child had spent forty-eight hours in the house, yet no one seemed able to give a convincing reason for the general impression.
