used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Monday came all too quickly.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
authoritativeadjectiveUS /əˈθɔːrəteɪtɪv/
having authority or ascendancy or influence
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Monday came all too quickly.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
commandingadjectiveUS /kəˈmændɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
travel across or pass over
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
divisible by two
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
grandchildrennounUS /ˈɡræntʃɪldrən/
plural of “grandchild” — a child of your son or daughter
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
Grannienoun
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
masterfuladjectiveUS /ˈmæstərfəl/
having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading Monday came all too quickly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
with speed
From this reading Monday came all too quickly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Monday came all too quickly.
precisely as stated
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading This week, even Alison did not dare to cross her in the smallest matter.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She insisted on all the grandchildren doing exactly what she told them.
at the time that
From this reading There were moments when she was almost stern; she had always been authoritative, and had a certain commanding way about her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Grannie was very masterful during the few days which went before.
