used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
agonizedadjectiveUS /ˈæɡənaɪzd/
expressing pain or agony
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
Annie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly she needed it.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
the act of departing
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Certainly she needed it.
the act of departing
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
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 For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Certainly she needed it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
Paula
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
screamverbUS /skriːm/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
sensitiveadjectiveUS /ˈsensətɪv/
responsive to physical stimuli
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
SettlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
in or at or to some place
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
not in physical motion
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
temporarilyadverbUS /ˌtempərˈerəli/
for a limited time only; not permanently
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading For some time she had been thinking of leaving town and going somewhere for a rest.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Three weeks passed and Paula still felt the terrible shock of little Annie's death.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The sad affair had made such an impression on her sensitive nature that she was compelled to give up her Settlement work temporarily if not altogether.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading For days she was haunted by the wretched mother's agonized face; that shrill scream of despair still rang in her ears.
