used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
(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 Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am astonished at you, Dexie!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading I am astonished at you, Dexie!"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I am astonished at you, Dexie!"
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
Dexie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
set up or found
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
the act of departing
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
the act of departing
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
with speed
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
rememberingnounUS /rɪˈmembərɪŋ/
the cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
scoldverbUS /skoʊld/
censure severely or angrily
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
with low volume
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
in the near future
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
steppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
express in words
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
precisely as stated
From this reading Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
(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 Going softly into her father's room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I heard you in the hall," said he, pretending to scold.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn't it, now?
