used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
ascendedverbUS /əˈsendɪd/
past form of “ascend” — travel up
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
banisternounUS /ˈbænɪstər/
a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
blurtverbUS /blɜːrt/
utter impulsively
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
conceiveverbUS /kənˈsiːv/
have the idea for
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
made afraid
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
the act of departing
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
horriblyadverbUS /ˈhɔːrəbli/
of a dreadful kind
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
Josina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
the force of workers available
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Before now the knees of brave men, going on forlorn hopes, have shaken under them, but, like these men, Josina went on, she ascended step by step.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
vowverbUS /vaʊ/
make a vow; promise
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading An hour after Arthur had left the house on the Monday morning Josina went slowly up the stairs to her father’s room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
the words that are spoken
From this reading How she would carry it out, how she would find words to blurt out the truth, how she would have the courage to live through that which would follow, she did not know, she could not conceive.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was frightened, she was horribly frightened, but she had made a vow to herself and she would carry it out.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading She was young and the stairs were shallow, but the girl’s knees shook under her as she mounted them, as she mounted them one by one, while her hand trembled on the banister.
