used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
(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 A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
arm-chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
a flexible container with a single opening
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
gotten under control
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
Emma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How very puzzling and interesting!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
and nothing more
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading How very puzzling and interesting!
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
STORY-TELLING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But here it was in her lap, with her two hands folded tight over it, as if it contained something precious!
precisely as stated
From this reading How very puzzling and interesting!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
at the time that
From this reading A STORY-TELLING GAME When Aunt Emma was safely settled, cap and all, in one of the drawing-room arm-chairs, it seemed to the children as if the rain and the gray sky did not matter nearly so much as they had done half an hour before.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the first place, her coming made something new and interesting to think about; and in the second place, they felt quite sure that Aunt Emma hadn't brought her little black bag into the drawing-room with her for nothing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If only her cap had been in it, why of course she would have left it in mother's bedroom.
