used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
catastrophenounUS /kəˈtæstrəfi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
depressionnounUS /dɪˈpreʃən/
a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
Desiré
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
DollynounUS /ˈdɑːli/
conveyance consisting of a wheeled support on which a camera can be mounted
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
FiredadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
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 “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
by chance
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
shipyardsnounUS /ˈʃɪpjɑːrdz/
plural of “shipyard” — a workplace where ships are built or repaired
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading “Perhaps I could get some work in the shipyards in town,” began her brother before she had arrived at any solution of the problem.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
(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 “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I don’t think she will—at least not so as to be ready for the road.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading “I wish I knew,” was the boy’s sad reply to his sister’s question.
witsnounUS /wɪts/
the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Fired by the sight of his deep depression, Desiré put her wits to work to find a way out of this latest catastrophe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “But if Dolly gets well in a few days, would that pay?”
