used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What are you doing, Bess?
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You aren't stuffing cotton in the keyhole?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
Bess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
the two together, not just one
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading You aren't stuffing cotton in the keyhole?"
defiantlyadverbUS /dɪˈfaɪəntli/
in a rebellious manner
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading What are you doing, Bess?
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
divisible by two
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You aren't stuffing cotton in the keyhole?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
keyholenounUS /ˈkiːhoʊl/
the hole where a key is inserted
From this reading You aren't stuffing cotton in the keyhole?"
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
the sound of laughing
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
fasten with a lock
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
needn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
and nothing more
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
pilenounUS /paɪl/
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
protrudingadjectiveUS /proʊˈtruːdɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
Smarty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
not in physical motion
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
straighteningverbUS /ˈstreɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
stuffingnounUS /ˈstʌfɪŋ/
a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables
From this reading You aren't stuffing cotton in the keyhole?"
suggestingverbUS /səˈdʒestɪŋ/
-ing form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
telltaleadjectiveUS /ˈtelteɪl/
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
THEFTnounUS /θeft/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "It might be a good idea," Nan had replied, laughing at her, "if there were only some furniture to pile.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
tuftnounUS /tʌft/
a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
precisely as stated
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
wadverbUS /wɑːd/
compress into a wad
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading AN ATTEMPTED THEFT That night the girls were very careful to lock both doors and Bess even went to the length of suggesting that they pile some furniture against them.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What are you doing, Bess?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "You needn't laugh, Miss Smarty," Bess had retorted, straightening up defiantly with a large wad of the cotton still in her hand and a telltale tuft of it protruding from the keyhole.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What are you doing, Bess?
