used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE SHEPHERD’S CALL.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
hesitatingadjectiveUS /ˈhezəteɪtɪŋ/
lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
Hesper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
Johnny'snounUS /ˈdʒɑːniz/
possessive form of “johnny” — “Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
immediately past
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a particular point in time
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
not any; not one
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
and nothing more
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
precisely, exactly
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
SHEPHERD'SnounUS /ˈʃepərdz/
possessive form of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people
From this reading THE SHEPHERD’S CALL.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SHEPHERD’S CALL.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
a shaky motion
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading She did not allow herself another moment for reflection, but gave the bell quite a vigorous pull.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “No,” said she at last, “I will not fear, for I am doing right, and I know he is too kind to refuse me.”
withdrewverbUS /wɪθˈdruː/
inflected form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading She raised her hand to the silver bell knob, and then withdrew it, as if her courage failed her.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading IT was only a few evenings after Johnny’s adventure in the wood, that Hesper stood hesitating and trembling on the great stone steps at the doctor’s front door.
