used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
exemptionnounUS /ɪɡˈzempʃən/
immunity from an obligation or duty
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading ‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading ‘In great danger, mother,’ said Vera.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
a particular point in time
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading ‘In great danger, mother,’ said Vera.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
pattedverbUS /ˈpætɪd/
inflected form of “pat” — pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
in the near future
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
get something; come into possession of
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘In great danger, mother,’ said Vera.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
shornadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrn/
having the hair or wool cut or clipped off as if with shears or clippers
From this reading ‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn!
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading ‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn!
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
strictadjectiveUS /strɪkt/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading ‘Too fair, too fair,’ she smiled, ‘to be shorn!
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
Vera
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
Vera's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She took Vera’s hand and patted it, laying her own presently upon her golden crown of hair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
at the time that
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Superior was kind and cordial, and hesitated not a moment when asked by me to receive Vera for a while under exemption from the strict rules of the convent.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Are you in some danger, my pretty?’
