used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Dear Helen, how are you to-day?"
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
bethought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
cautionnounUS /ˈkɑːʃən/
the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
dearly loved
From this reading "Dear Helen, how are you to-day?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
ERRANDnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading THE MORNING ERRAND.
fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/
(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dear Helen, how are you to-day?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
knobnounUS /nɑːb/
a circular rounded projection or protuberance
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
the sound of laughing
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
meshverbUS /meʃ/
keep engaged
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE MORNING ERRAND.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
needlessadjectiveUS /ˈniːdləs/
unnecessary and unwarranted
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
noiselessadjective
making no sound
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
with low volume
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MORNING ERRAND.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dear Helen, how are you to-day?"
in the direction of
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
traversedverbUS /ˈtrævərst/
past form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
on a floor above
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Very well, thank you, little lady, how do you do, and what time is it?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading Turning the knob of the door softly, she entered with a noiseless step, and went towards the bed; but a low, merry laugh, and a "good morning," assured her that her kind caution had all been needless.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading After the slender ivory needles had traversed the fleecy mesh backwards and forwards some three or four times, May suddenly bethought herself of Helen, and laying her work carefully down in her basket, she ran upstairs to see if she was awake.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Dear Helen, how are you to-day?"
