used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
Baxter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
a young person of either sex
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
closetnounUS /ˈklɑːzət/
a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
disclosurenounUS /dɪˈskloʊʒər/
the speech act of making something evident
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
ENCOUNTERSnounUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərz/
plural of “encounter” — a minor short-term fight
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading For the first time, terror entered her life.
divisible by two
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time, terror entered her life.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
a domain in which something is dominant
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For the first time, terror entered her life.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
lurkverbUS /lɜːrk/
lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
PIPPINnounUS /ˈpɪpɪn/
any of numerous superior eating apples with yellow or greenish yellow skin flushed with red
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
Pippin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
resistedverbUS /rɪˈzɪstɪd/
past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
RUFFIANnoun
a cruel and brutal fellow
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading For the first time, terror entered her life.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time, terror entered her life.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
troublousadjective
full of trouble
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading PIPPIN ENCOUNTERS THE RED RUFFIAN The days that followed Pippin's disclosure of his plan were troublous ones for Mrs. Baxter.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She looked under the bed a dozen times a day; she avoided the broom closet for fear of what might lurk there; if a door resisted her opening, she made sure it was held on the other side.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading It had been a comfortable life: she had been a good and cheerful baby, child, maiden; she was a good and cheerful woman.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading She had known that this was a wicked world, and--in a general way--that there were bad people even in Kingdom.
