used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
aggravatingadjectiveUS /ˈæɡrəveɪtɪŋ/
making worse
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
react verbally
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
make calm or still
From this reading Only Rosemary was calm.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
entertainin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
GrandmothernounUS /ˈɡrændmʌðər/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
gruntedverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪd/
past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
Marshs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
not any; not one
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
and nothing more
From this reading Only Rosemary was calm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
owesverbUS /oʊz/
third-person singular of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
payin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
a human being
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
Play-Actin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
respondedverbUS /rɪˈspɑːndɪd/
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
RosemarynounUS /ˈroʊzmeri/
widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery
From this reading Only Rosemary was calm.
sayin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
she'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
Sidenote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
snortverbUS /snɔːrt/
indicate contempt by breathing noisily and forcefully through the nose
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Seems to me," Grandmother grunted, "that she'd better be payin' up the calls she owes in the neighbourhood than entertainin' strangers."
in or at that place or location
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
there's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only Rosemary was calm.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading [Sidenote: A Play-Actin' Person] "As I was sayin'," Matilda went on, after an aggravating silence, "there's company up to Marshs'."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There being no ready answer to this, Grandmother responded with a snort, which meant much or little, as one might choose.
witheredadjectiveUS /ˈwɪðərd/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading A dull red burned on her withered cheeks and she had lost interest in her supper.
