used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
dearly loved
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
Debby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
apart from; not including
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
made afraid
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Did you think you had lost it, then?" she asked.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading "Did you think you had lost it, then?" she asked.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
on one occasion
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
stammered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
believed likely
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Did you think you had lost it, then?" she asked.
thimblenounUS /ˈθɪmbəl/
as much as a thimble will hold
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
a special situation
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading But she was always so timid and frightened that Cousin Debby did not think of any thing being the matter, except that Lucy had been in doubt about her thimble.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading "I—I was looking to see whether I put my thimble away."
in the company of; together with
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lucy had given a guilty start, and stammered so, as she spoke, that any other child would have been at once suspected of lying.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "WHAT are you doing with the box, Lucy, my dear?" asked Cousin Debby, opening the door.
