used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
AuntienounUS /ˈænti/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
blazingadjectiveUS /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
clothing in general
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
ConsequencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/
plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The house seemed so empty, so desolate.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
Elisabeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The house seemed so empty, so desolate.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
Hecla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house seemed so empty, so desolate.
icy-cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
IvynounUS /ˈaɪvi/
Old World vine with lobed evergreen leaves and black berrylike fruits
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
Prue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
only a very short time before
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The house seemed so empty, so desolate.
shawlsnounUS /ʃɔːlz/
plural of “shawl” — cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The house seemed so empty, so desolate.
express in speech
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
StoreynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a structure consisting of a room or set of rooms at a single position along a vertical scale
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Consequences NOBODY had time to think about Hecla.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading Mildred took her home, and went off to change her own wet clothes; and for the first time in her life, Hecla was left to her own devices.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
in or at the place that
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She felt utterly miserable, and did not know what to do with herself.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Auntie Anne was away at the doctor's with Ivy; and Mrs. Prue and Elisabeth were both busy with Miss Storey in her room, where, wrapped in shawls and blankets, she sat shivering and icy-cold before a blazing fire, scarcely able to speak.
