used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
AdamsnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another heredity asserted itself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
assertedadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪd/
confidently declared to be so
From this reading Another heredity asserted itself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
at any time
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Her freedom of mind now failed her.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading Her freedom of mind now failed her.
a young female
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
great-grandmother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
hereditynounUS /hərˈedəti/
the biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next
From this reading Another heredity asserted itself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Another heredity asserted itself.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Her freedom of mind now failed her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
not any; not one
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her freedom of mind now failed her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
plightnounUS /plaɪt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
predicamentnounUS /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
a special situation
From this reading It seemed to her that no girl, certainly no girl in Adams, had ever done such a thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
trembleverbUS /ˈtrembəl/
move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
precisely as stated
From this reading She felt very much as her mother or her great-grandmother might have felt in a similar predicament.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the girl was not now in a position to do more than tremble at the plight into which she had gotten herself.
