adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
addedverbUS /ˈædəd/
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
backreaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
behaviournounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
cataloguedverbUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡd/
past form of “catalogue” — make an itemized list or catalog of; classify
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
Cherryvale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
chosennounUS /ˈtʃoʊzən/
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
classnounUS /klæs/
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
CommencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
creditsnounUS /ˈkredɪts/
a list of acknowledgements of those who contributed to the creation of a film (usually run at the end of the film)
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
deliververbUS /dɪˈlɪvər/
deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
expectantadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektənt/
marked by eager anticipation
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
folksnounUS /foʊks/
your parents
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
girls-and
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
graduateverbUS /ˈɡrædʒəwət/
receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
habitsnounUS /ˈhæbəts/
plural of “habit” — an established custom
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
HighadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
highlyadverbUS /ˈhaɪli/
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
inconceivableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbəl/
totally unlikely
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
listverbUS /lɪst/
give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
MelissanounUS /məˈlɪsə/
a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
Merriam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
MissynounUS /ˈmɪsi/
a young female
From this reading And Missy?
namesnounUS /neɪmz/
verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
prettieradjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiər/
comparative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
prosinessnoun
commonplaceness as a consequence of being humdrum and not exciting
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
rosternounUS /ˈrɑːstər/
a list of names
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
scholarship's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
SchoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
SenioradjectiveUS /ˈsiːnjər/
older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
smarteradjectiveUS /ˈsmɑːrtər/
comparative of “smart” — showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
SpanishnounUS /ˈspænɪʃ/
the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
tail-end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
tokennounUS /ˈtoʊkən/
an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
twenty-odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
ValedictoryadjectiveUS /ˌvæləˈdɪktəri/
of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
warnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 On the Senior class roster of the Cherryvale High School she was catalogued as Melissa Merriam, well down--in scholarship's token--toward the tail-end of twenty-odd other names.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading It was two years after the Spanish war; and she was seventeen years old and about to graduate.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Well, there were prettier girls in the class, and smarter girls-and boys, too; yet she was the one from all that twenty-odd who had been chosen to deliver the Valedictory.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading To the teachers the list meant only the last young folks added to a backreaching line of girls and boys who for years and years had been coming to “Commencement” with “credits” few or many, large expectant eyes fixed on the future, and highly uncertain habits of behaviour; but, to the twenty-odd, such dead prosiness about themselves would have been inconceivable even in teachers.
