used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
past form of “approach” — move towards
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
avengingverbUS /əˈvendʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “avenge” — take revenge for a perceived wrong
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
Berthe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
dearly loved
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
EATON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
emotionaladjectiveUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl/
determined or actuated by emotion rather than reason
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
an opposing military force
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
flaggedverbUS /flæɡd/
inflected form of “flag” — communicate or signal with a flag
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
heroinenounUS /ˈheroʊən/
the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
hollyhocknounUS /ˈhɑːlihɑːk/
any of various plants of the genus Althaea; similar to but having smaller flowers than genus Alcea
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading MRS.
much-suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
OdysseusnounUS /oʊˈdɪsiəs/
(Greek mythology) a famous mythical Greek hero; his return to Ithaca after the siege of Troy was described in the Odyssey
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
a course of conduct
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
participate in games or sport
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
established beyond doubt
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
express in words
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
shadesnounUS /ʃeɪdz/
(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something
From this reading EATON CALLS "Oh, shades of Odysseus," muttered Nancy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
spiedverbUS /spaɪd/
inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
syringas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
hard to endure
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From the swing on the hollyhock porch she had spied Mrs. Eaton coming up the flagged path to the front door.
villainnounUS /ˈvɪlən/
a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
at the time that
From this reading As she sat idly swinging, Nancy had been trying over the deeply emotional lines that Berthe, the much-suffering heroine of her dear play, should say when the villain proved to be her lover in disguise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A chance glance through the syringas had acquainted her with the alarming fact that an avenging enemy approached.
