used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
baby-girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
bear-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
contentedadjectiveUS /kənˈtentəd/
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
invasionnounUS /ˌɪnˈveɪʒən/
the act of invading; the act of an army that invades for conquest or plunder
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
journeysnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrniz/
plural of “journey” — the act of traveling from one place to another
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
morrownounUS /ˈmɑːroʊ/
the next day
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
only a very short time before
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
ShortenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtənd/
cut short
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
the act of smoking tobacco or other substances
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
StatelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
StewartnounUS /ˈstuːərt/
United States film actor who portrayed incorruptible but modest heros (1908-1997)
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Mr. Stewart had returned from his journeys, contented, and sat now, after his hot supper, smoking by the fire.
SweetenedadjectiveUS /ˈswiːtənd/
with sweetening added
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
carry out
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How a Stately Name Was Shortened and Sweetened.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was on the morrow after my birthday that we became finally convinced of the French retreat.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
at the time that
From this reading I lay at his feet on a bear-skin, I remember, reading by the light of the flames, when my aunt brought the baby-girl in.
in the company of; together with
From this reading During the week that she had been with us, I had been too much terrified by the menace of invasion to take much interest in her, and Mr. Stewart had scarcely seen her.
