used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
(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 For awhile all was very still.
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading AMONG STRANGERS.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/
for a short time
From this reading For awhile all was very still.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
make calm or still
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
well in the past; former
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
detailingnounUS /dɪˈteɪlɪŋ/
an individualized description of a particular instance
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
dewyadjectiveUS /ˈduːi/
wet with dew
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
EllsworthnounUS /ˈelzwərθ/
United States jurist and the third chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1807)
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
a young female
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
KellynounUS /ˈkeli/
United States circus clown (1898-1979)
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
laudanumnounUS /ˈlɔːdənəm/
narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
not in physical motion
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
a brief written record
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
in the near future
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
with little or no delay
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
purling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
riotousadjectiveUS /ˈraɪətəs/
produced or growing in extreme abundance
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
not in physical motion
From this reading For awhile all was very still.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading AMONG STRANGERS.
strayedverbUS /streɪd/
past form of “stray” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
suicidenounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
sultryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌltri/
sexually exciting or gratifying
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
precisely as stated
From this reading For awhile all was very still.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading The night was warm and sultry, and few people strayed abroad; so out in the road, on the grassy bank by a little purling creek, there lay for hours the motionless form of a seemingly dead girl, by her side a bottle of laudanum, and a pathetic little note detailing the reasons for her suicide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reward was immediately paid into her hands, and she departed in haste from Ellsworth to spend it in riotous living.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The dark, calm, dewy night closed down presently, and Sheila Kelly promptly finished her wicked work.
