used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
the act of burning something
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
a small house with a single story
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading No, indeed.
Larkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
Maynard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “With me, Sarah?
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
not any; not one
From this reading No, indeed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
scaredadjectiveUS /skerd/
made afraid
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
for a short time
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
SimpsonsnounUS /ˈsɪmpsənz/
plural of “simpson” — United States divorcee whose marriage to Edward VIII created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading NOW, while the Simpsons’ cottage had been burning, the occupants of the Maynard house had been in a state of great consternation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Larkin and her two guests from Boston had arrived shortly after five o’clock, and Sarah met them at the door with a scared look on her face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Are the children with you, ma’am?” she said, as Miss Larkin stepped across the threshold.
