used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
Dorothy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
a young female
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
and nothing more
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
Lawson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
necktiesnounUS /ˈnektaɪz/
plural of “necktie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
rubbernounUS /ˈrʌbər/
an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
shoppedverbUS /ʃɑːpt/
inflected form of “shop” — do one's shopping
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading As the butler stepped out of the closet and started to close the door, Dorothy’s self-control snapped like a rubber band.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
suicidaladjectiveUS /ˌsuːəˈsaɪdəl/
dangerous to yourself or your interests
From this reading She forgot that she was playing a part; that it might be suicidal to show her hand so early in the game.
SURPRISESnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
tightenedverbUS /ˈtaɪtənd/
past form of “tighten” — make tight or tighter
From this reading Laura Lawson’s appearance in her bedroom had strained tightened nerves to the breaking point.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The arrival of this second intruder was just too much.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading SURPRISES Dorothy’s experiences, since she had shopped for neckties for her father that morning had been quite enough to lay up the average girl for a week, and to wreck her nerves into the bargain.
