used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
any person at all
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
bandagenounUS /ˈbændɪdʒ/
a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
every person
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
minister'snounUS /ˈmɪnɪstərz/
possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
pianistnounUS /piˈænəst/
a person who plays the piano
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
participate in games or sport
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
pleadedverbUS /ˈpliːdɪd/
past form of “plead” — appeal or request earnestly
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
rainyadjectiveUS /ˈreɪni/
(of weather) wet by periods of rain
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
an educational institution
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading It happened on a rainy Sunday in Sunday school, and the regular pianist was late.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
ThorntonnounUS /ˈθɔːrntən/
American architect (1759-1828)
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
Tinsdale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
tunenounUS /tuːn/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
(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 minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Betty had been in Tinsdale about a month it was discovered that she could play the piano.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
which person or people
From this reading The superintendent looked about helplessly and asked if there was anybody present who could play, although he knew the musical ability of everybody in the village.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
in the company of; together with
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading The minister's wife had already pleaded a cut finger which was well wrapped up in a bandage, and he was about to ask some one to start the tune without the piano when Mrs. Thornton leaned over with a sudden inspiration to Betty and asked:
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "My dear, you couldn't play for us, could you?"
