used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Wouldn’t Tildy be s’prised!
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
BIGGAR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
BluebellnounUS /ˈbluːbel/
sometimes placed in genus Scilla
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
examineverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/
consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
fatiguenounUS /fəˈtiːɡ/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
Garde's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
gaugeverbUS /ɡeɪdʒ/
judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
a young female
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
MelissanounUS /məˈlɪsə/
a genus of Old World mints of the family Labiatae
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
on the contrary
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
Rocco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
s'prised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wouldn’t Tildy be s’prised!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
spaciousnessnoun
spatial largeness and extensiveness (especially inside a building)
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
TeenyadjectiveUS /ˈtiːni/
(used informally) very small
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Aunt Melissa floated about, showing fatigue in every motion, but anxious to examine into the state of her house.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
Tildy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading About this time, she and Teeny were sitting on the front steps.
at the time that
From this reading MISS BIGGAR But in spite of its beauty and spaciousness, this seemed rather a lonely house, Bluebell thought, when she was ready for tea, and had nothing to do but gauge her surroundings.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Doctor Garde’s little girl wished for Rocco, or that Tildy would walk in, poking her toes into the pile of the carpets.
Wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wouldn’t Tildy be s’prised!
