used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
abominableadjectiveUS /əˈbɑːmənəbəl/
unequivocally detestable
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
administerverbUS /ədˈmɪnəstər/
work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
behavingverbUS /bɪˈheɪvɪŋ/
-ing form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
an occurrence of something
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
consternationnounUS /ˌkɑːnstərˈneɪʃən/
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
demonsnounUS /ˈdiːmənz/
plural of “demon” — an evil supernatural being
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
deserveverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrv/
be worthy or deserving
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
elopedverbUS /ɪˈloʊpd/
past form of “elope” — run away secretly with one's beloved
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
flownverbUS /floʊn/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
set up or found
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
Gerald's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
destroyed or killed
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
hystericsnounUS /ˌhɪˈsterɪks/
an attack of hysteria
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
LeynounUS /leɪ/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
middle-agedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdəleɪɡd/
being roughly between 45 and 65 years old
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/
extremely
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/
The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
scandalouslyadverb
in a scandalous manner
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
shocksnounUS /ʃɑːks/
plural of “shock” — the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
believed likely
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
swarmnounUS /swɔːrm/
a moving crowd
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
create by training and teaching
From this reading She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock.
undergoverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡoʊ/
pass through
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
at the time that
From this reading Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
which person or people
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?”
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously.
the act of creating written works
From this reading She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother.
