used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
any person at all
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
BarbernounUS /ˈbɑːrbər/
United States composer (1910-1981)
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
have
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
terminate
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
clangnounUS /klæŋ/
a loud resonant repeating noise
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
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 "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
Eva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
gongnounUS /ɡɔːŋ/
a percussion instrument consisting of a metal plate that is struck with a softheaded drumstick
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
locker-roomadjective
relating to or appropriate for a locker room
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
engage in
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
Miriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
information about recent and important events
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
an educational institution
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
SCHOOLGIRLSnounUS /ˈskuːlɡɜːrlz/
plural of “schoolgirl” — a girl attending school
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
sophomoresnounUS /ˈsɑːfmɔːrz/
plural of “sophomore” — a second-year undergraduate
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I think Miriam should break the news herself," observed Marian Barber, "as long as she is to succeed Grace."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading She told me she could not bear to see anyone unhappy.
precisely as stated
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading THE WAYS OF SCHOOLGIRLS The clang of the gong announced the end of school for the day, but some of the sophomores lingered in their locker-room.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Miriam isn't here," said Eva Allen, "she went home early.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had a very disagreeable communication to make that afternoon, to one of their class, and now that the time had come were inclined to shrink from the ordeal.
