used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
anew
From this reading THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
how long something has existed
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading 'Gone away altogether!'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading 'Gone away altogether!'
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
echoedverbUS /ˈekoʊd/
past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
destroyed or killed
From this reading 'Gone away altogether!'
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
Jessie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
immediately past
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
-ing form of “lose” — fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
information about recent and important events
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
releasedverbUS /riˈliːst/
past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I had never, until the last fortnight, had a friend so nearly of my own age as Jessie; and the companionship had been to me so sweet and delightful, and so altogether new, that to lose it now seemed like losing the best part of my life.
on a floor above
From this reading I released myself from my mother's embrace, and ran upstairs to her bedroom, to look for Jessie's box.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I echoed the words, but the news was so sudden and unexpected that for a few moments I did not quite understand their meaning.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
