used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT WITH A KNIGHT “Well!
the state of being absent
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
any person at all
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
next to; at the side of
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
Doro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
divisible by two
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
give expression to
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
let have
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading A NIGHT WITH A KNIGHT “Well!
immediately past
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT WITH A KNIGHT “Well!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
with speed
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
speedingnounUS /ˈspiːdɪŋ/
changing location rapidly
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
not in physical motion
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
Tavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading “If, however, they learn that we are behind before they reach----” “_Stop!_” commanded Dorothy, dropping down beside the track and covering her ears.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
(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 A NIGHT WITH A KNIGHT “Well!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why! even we, Doro, have been left behind before.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading A NIGHT WITH A KNIGHT “Well!
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wouldn’t talk as though it had never happened before to anybody,” said Tavia, at last.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Still, I grant you, we were never left before behind a fast express, which was speeding your aunt and the boys away from us so rapidly that we will be miles and miles behind before they discover our absence.”
