used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
how long something has existed
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
alanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading "It's from America," she said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
Bedad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
betrayingverbUS /bɪˈtreɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “betray” — reveal unintentionally
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
lacking funds
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
descried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
increase twofold
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
elbow-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
a movement into or inward
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "It's from America," she said.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
hustledverbUS /ˈhʌsəld/
past form of “hustle” — cause to move furtively and hurriedly
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's from America," she said.
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
mystificationnoun
confusion resulting from failure to understand
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
rheumatismnounUS /ˈruːmətɪzəm/
any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "It's from America," she said.
sealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
very small
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She turned it over and over, and finally broke the seal.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Maggie was hustled to the front and the packet placed in her hand.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
which person or people
From this reading "Bedad, alanna, I knew that before," returned old Dan, who was bending over her, his weather-beaten face betraying the utmost mystification.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Entering they descried her--a tiny old woman, bent almost double with age and rheumatism, leaning forward in her elbow-chair with the letter on her knee.
