used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
blamedadjectiveUS /bleɪmd/
expletives used informally as intensifiers
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
Clayton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
denialnounUS /dɪˈnaɪəl/
the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
developedadjectiveUS /dɪˈveləpt/
being changed over time so as to be e.g. stronger or more complete or more useful
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
erstwhileadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrstwaɪl/
belonging to some prior time
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
at any time
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
MelissanounUS /məˈlɪsə/
a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
Melissa'snounUS /məˈlɪsəz/
possessive form of “melissa” — a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
on the contrary
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
Reilly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
soakingnounUS /ˈsoʊkɪŋ/
the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
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 They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading More than ever the girls felt Melissa needed a friend.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were quite sure that Melissa had been their erstwhile burglar.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
hard to endure
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Of course, as it developed, there was nothing to report to Chief Reilly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They talked over the situation, trying to piece together the girl’s story and her father’s denial of that part which blamed him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Several days after their rather unpleasant meeting with Melissa’s father, George Clayton, the three girls were “soaking up the sun” on the beach.
