used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
(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 "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE CHESTNUTS.
Barraclough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
CHESTNUTSnounUS /ˈtʃesnəts/
plural of “chestnut” — wood of any of various chestnut trees of the genus Castanea
From this reading AT THE CHESTNUTS.
climaxnounUS /ˈklaɪmæks/
the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
courtedverbUS /ˈkɔːrtɪd/
past form of “court” — make amorous advances towards
From this reading She courted surprise.
devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/
past form of “devour” — destroy completely
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
ensureverbUS /enˈʃʊr/
make certain of
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
forestalledverbUS /ˌfɔːrˈstɑːld/
past form of “forestall” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
greedilyadverbUS /ˈɡriːdəli/
in a greedy manner
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
plural of “hundred” — ten 10s
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
immediately past
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
on one occasion
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
peepverbUS /piːp/
look furtively
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
prematureadjectiveUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr/
born after a gestation period of less than the normal time
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
sensationaladjectiveUS /senˈseɪʃənəl/
causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She courted surprise.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading She courted surprise.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE CHESTNUTS.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "I shall find out all about it in good time" was the motto she affected.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
which person or people
From this reading Mrs. Barraclough was one of those old ladies who are constantly being surprised.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She never forestalled a climax and of the hundreds of sensational novels which she so greedily devoured never once was she guilty of taking a premature peep at the last chapter to ensure herself that right would triumph.
