used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an instant her heart sank.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
opinion or judgment
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For an instant her heart sank.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For an instant her heart sank.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading For an instant her heart sank.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
immediately past
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
not any; not one
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
a brief written record
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
ObservernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
rivetedverbUS /ˈrɪvətɪd/
past form of “rivet” — direct one's attention on something
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading For an instant her heart sank.
an educational institution
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
scriptnounUS /skrɪpt/
a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
snowyadjectiveUS /ˈsnoʊi/
marked by the presence of snow
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
with low volume
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
make square
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
WarnernounUS /ˈwɔːrnər/
United States filmmaker who with his brothers founded the movie studio that produced the first talking picture (1881-1958)
From this reading This note was from Lucy Warner, her friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then she laughed softly, under her breath, as she recalled that although the script was unmistakably that of the Observer, she now had no need to dread it.
at the time that
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
a Caucasian
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
widenedverbUS /ˈwaɪdənd/
past form of “widen” — become broader or wider or more extensive
From this reading When Marjorie returned to school that afternoon, her eyes widened in startled surprise as they became riveted on a square white envelope on her desk addressed to herself.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The Observer had been laid to rest on a certain snowy afternoon of last winter.
