used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
HardingnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋ/
29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
HARDING'SnounUS /ˈhɑːrdɪŋs/
possessive form of “harding” — 29th President of the United States; two of his appointees were involved in the Teapot Dome scandal (1865-1823)
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
engage in
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
come together
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
one of four equal parts
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
quickeradverbUS /ˈkwɪkər/
more quickly
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/
(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading She sat down on a seat near the center of the park, and began to look around her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was less than a mile from her brother's house, and though she walked slowly, she got there a quarter of an hour before the time.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading MISS HARDING'S MISTAKE Miss Rachel Harding kept on her way to Washington Park.
which person or people
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I hope he won't be late," she murmured to herself, and she felt of the blue ribbon to make sure that she had not forgotten it.
a late time of life
From this reading Poor Rachel! her heart beat quicker than it had done for thirty years, as she realized that she was about to meet one who wished to make her his wife.
