used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading BABY.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
crapenoun
small very thin pancake
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
something that is lost
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
MyrtlenounUS /ˈmɜːrtəl/
widely cultivated as a groundcover for its dark green shiny leaves and usually blue-violet flowers
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
the local environment
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
cut with a saw
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
scarletnounUS /ˈskɑːrlət/
a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
bound or secured closely
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
tokennounUS /ˈtoʊkən/
an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
the act of testing something
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
unhealthyadjectiveUS /ənˈhelθi/
not in or exhibiting good health in body or mind
From this reading The summer had been an unhealthy one for children.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BUT a greater trial than the loss of money was hanging over the homes in Myrtle Street.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
a Caucasian
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
which person or people
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
Wilbur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Myrtle Street had thus far escaped better than most parts of the city; but its time was to come; and one morning in September it was told among the neighbours that the Wilbur children had the scarlet fever.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading At many a door the black crape tied with white ribbon (as was the custom of the place) announced that there were aching hearts within, and drew a sigh from many a mother who saw the token.
