used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
Adirondacksnoun
a mountain range in northeastern New York State; a popular resort area
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
brother-in-lawnounUS /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/
a brother by marriage
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she was so tired!
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
Drayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
the act of departing
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
orphannounUS /ˈɔːrfən/
a child who has lost both parents
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
express in words
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
sister'snounUS /ˈsɪstərz/
possessive form of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But she was so tired!
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
carry out
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
express in words
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading But she was so tired!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
precisely as stated
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she was so tired!
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
in the company of; together with
From this reading After her sister's death, Miss Drayton went with a cousin for a quiet summer in the Adirondacks.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading So day after day passed, and she went away without saying a word about Anne.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Before leaving, she had meant to talk to her brother-in-law about Anne, to tell him of her sister's wish to keep the child, and to say that she herself would take charge of the little orphan.
but in spite of that
From this reading Life seemed very empty and yet she shrank from any new responsibility.
