used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
(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 All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
alternatelyadverbUS /ˈɔːltərnətli/
in an alternating sequence or position
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
inflected form of “behold” — see with attention
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
BlightnounUS /blaɪt/
a state or condition being blighted
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
bombshellnounUS /ˈbɑːmʃel/
an entertainer who has a sensational effect
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
brinknounUS /brɪŋk/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
convulsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
a female human offspring
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
defiantadjectiveUS /dɪˈfaɪənt/
boldly resisting authority or an opposing force
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
enemy'snounUS /ˈenəmiz/
possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
fadingnounUS /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/
weakening in force or intensity
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
a social unit living together
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
yet to be or coming
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
glaringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlerɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
grandeurnounUS /ɡrænˈduːr/
the quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
hatrednounUS /ˈheɪtrəd/
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
heiressnounUS /ˈerəs/
a female heir
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
insolvencynounUS /ˌɪnˈsɑːlvənsi/
the lack of financial resources
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
LallynounUS /ˈlæli/
support column consisting of a steel cylinder filled with concrete
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
lividadjectiveUS /ˈlɪvɪd/
anemic looking from illness or emotion
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
nothingnessnounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋnəs/
the state of nonexistence
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading Mrs. Blight stood as if turning to stone, in an utter panic, her eyes glaring upon Mrs. Wroat and upon Lally alternately, her chest heaving, her face livid.
visionsnounUS /ˈvɪʒənz/
plural of “vision” — a vivid mental image
From this reading All her fine schemes of future grandeur became in an instant “airy visions fading into nothingness.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She beheld herself and her family upon the brink of insolvency, which this old lady’s fortune might have averted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
Wroat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The composed and defiant announcement by Mrs. Wroat that she had adopted Lally Bird as her daughter and heiress, was like a bombshell flung into the enemy’s camp.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She was convulsed with rage and amazement, and with bitter hatred of her young governess.
