used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
enigmanounUS /ɪˈnɪɡmə/
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
at any time
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
opinion or judgment
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading WHY SYLVIA WAS HAPPY.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
immediately past
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
established beyond doubt
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
Prue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
rocking-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
suspendedadjectiveUS /səˈspendɪd/
(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
SYLVIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHY SYLVIA WAS HAPPY.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There must be some reason for this great change in you.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
vacancynounUS /ˈveɪkənsi/
being unoccupied
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading "I always was to myself, Prue, and am more so than ever now," answered Sylvia, waking out of her reverie with a smile that proved it had been a pleasant one.
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHY SYLVIA WAS HAPPY.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading WHY SYLVIA WAS HAPPY.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I never did understand you, Sylvia; and this last month you have been a perfect enigma to me."
YulenounUS /juːl/
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading With rocking-chair in full action, suspended needle and thoughtful expression, Miss Yule had watched her sister for ten minutes as she sat with her work at her feet, her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes dreamily fixed on vacancy.
