used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SAFETY-VALVE.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
brutaladjectiveUS /ˈbruːtəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
cavedverbUS /keɪvd/
past form of “cave” — hollow out as if making a cave or opening
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
eldestadjectiveUS /ˈeldəst/
first in order of birth
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
flingingverbUS /ˈflɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
indulgingnounUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒɪŋ/
the act of indulging or gratifying a desire
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
mitenounUS /maɪt/
a slight but appreciable amount
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
nonchalantadjectiveUS /ˌnɑːnʃəˈlɑːnt/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
on the contrary
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
SAFETY-VALVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SAFETY-VALVE.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
sobbedverbUS /sɑːbd/
inflected form of “sob” — weep convulsively
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Fly caved in, didn't she?" said Polly to her eldest sister that night.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
arousing affect
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
a source of difficulty
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
at the time that
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading "I was rather brutal to her," said Polly, in a nonchalant tone, flinging up the sash of the bedroom window as she spoke, and indulging in a careless whistle.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, poor little mite, she did, in a touching way," said Helen; "but she seemed in trouble about something.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You know how reserved she is about her feelings, but when she sat on my knee she quite sobbed."
