used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
bewailverb
regret strongly
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
CarrollnounUS /ˈkærəl/
English author; Charles Dodgson was an Oxford don of mathematics who is remembered for the children's stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
cookless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
the act of departing
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
deprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/
marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading She was thankful that the panic had not extended to the maids.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
Luce'snounUS /ˈluːsɪz/
possessive form of “luce” — United States publisher of magazines (1898-1967)
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading She was thankful that the panic had not extended to the maids.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
minusadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪnəs/
on the negative side or lower end of a scale
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
optimisticallyadverbUS /ˌɑːptɪˈmɪstɪkəli/
with optimism; in an optimistic manner
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
OVERprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading She was thankful that the panic had not extended to the maids.
prepareverbUS /priˈper/
make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
PUZZLEverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
PUZZLINGadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
replaceverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪs/
substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading She was thankful that the panic had not extended to the maids.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was thankful that the panic had not extended to the maids.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Carroll, however, was not so optimistically inclined.
Wayfarers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PUZZLING OVER THE PUZZLE Now minus a cook, it remained to the Wayfarers to prepare their own luncheon.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mammy Luce’s sudden departure had deprived her of a skilled cook, whom she could not easily replace.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Not stopping to bewail their cookless state, the four girls, under the direction of Miss Martha, attacked the task with the utmost good humor.
