used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
in the past
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “The day before!” she corrected demurely.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading “I was beginning to worry.”
of short duration or distance
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
correctedadjectiveUS /kərˈektəd/
having something undesirable neutralized
From this reading “The day before!” she corrected demurely.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “The day before!” she corrected demurely.
demurelyadverbUS /dɪˈmjʊrli/
in a demure manner
From this reading “The day before!” she corrected demurely.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
dimpledverbUS /ˈdɪmpəld/
past form of “dimple” — mark with, or as if with, dimples
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
Dorothy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/
a specially long, formal letter
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
Garry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
satisfactory-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “The day before!” she corrected demurely.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She fetched the letter, a bulky, satisfactory-looking epistle from the table in the hall and returned to the living room to read it in comfort.
Tavia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
express in words
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I was beginning to worry.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I was beginning to worry.”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading “I was beginning to worry.”
the day immediately before today
From this reading “I haven’t had a letter from Garry since——” “Yesterday!” finished Tavia with fine irony, and the corners of Dorothy’s mouth dimpled in a brief smile.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Good gracious, why didn’t you tell me that hours ago?” cried Dorothy, rising with an alacrity that made Tavia and Nat exchange amused and sympathetic glances.
