used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
befitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
congratulateverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪt/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
Crosby'snounUS /ˈkrɔːzbiz/
possessive form of “crosby” — United States singer and film actor (1903-1977)
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
facultynounUS /ˈfækəlti/
one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
heroinenounUS /ˈheroʊən/
the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
Lois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
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 They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
and nothing more
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
Polly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
story-teller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the faculty came in, one after the other, to congratulate her.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading A STARTLING DISCOVERY The next morning Polly stayed in bed for breakfast, as befitted a heroine, and received visitors.
vividadjectiveUS /ˈvɪvəd/
evoking lifelike images within the mind
From this reading Miss Crosby's ability as a story-teller had served to picture the events of the night before in vivid colors, and Polly's splendid courage had not lost in the telling.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
look attentively
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not many, for she had a headache and was thoroughly tired.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lois and Betty kept watch at the door, and admitted only the girls that they knew Polly would want to see.
