used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
coachesnounUS /ˈkoʊtʃɪz/
plural of “coach” — (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
concentrateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/
make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
cricketnounUS /ˈkrɪkət/
leaping insect; male makes chirping noises by rubbing the forewings together
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/
plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
establishingverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “establish” — set up or found
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
set up or found
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
gamesnounUS /ɡeɪmz/
plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
invaluableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvæljəbəl/
having incalculable monetary, intellectual, or spiritual worth
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
Leslie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
mistressesnounUS /ˈmɪstrəsəz/
plural of “mistress” — an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
not any; not one
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
on one occasion
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
organizedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrɡənaɪzd/
formed into a structured or coherent whole, particularly on a large scale
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
PetersnounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
participate in games or sport
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
established beyond doubt
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
schoolsnounUS /skuːlz/
plural of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
SilversidenounUS /ˈsɪlvərsaɪd/
small fishes having a silver stripe along each side; abundant along the Atlantic coast of the United States
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
standardadjectiveUS /ˈstændərd/
conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
systematicadjectiveUS /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/
characterized by order and planning
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
talentsnounUS /ˈtælənts/
plural of “talent” — natural abilities or qualities
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
tennisnounUS /ˈtenəs/
a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
in or at that place or location
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading They organized definite and systematic practice both at cricket and tennis, and tried to bring their play to a higher standard.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Both had been in large schools and thoroughly understood what was required.
which person or people
From this reading They found much help in this respect from Miss Peters and Miss Leslie, who had come as new mistresses in September, and were keen on tennis and cricket.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading During the winter there had been no opportunity for them to display their talents, but now they proved invaluable as coaches.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Surprise Tree Having once made up their minds to concentrate their united energies on establishing a record at games, the girls at Silverside set to work in dead earnest.
