used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DOWNWARD STEP.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
(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 "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
crosseradjectiveUS /ˈkrɔːsər/
comparative of “cross” — extending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis
From this reading "She is crosser than ever," said Julia.
DOWNWARDadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading A DOWNWARD STEP.
Ernest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
at any time
From this reading "She is crosser than ever," said Julia.
floodnounUS /flʌd/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She is crosser than ever," said Julia.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
playfullyadverbUS /ˈpleɪfəli/
in a playful manner
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "She is crosser than ever," said Julia.
your consciousness of your own identity
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading A DOWNWARD STEP.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
teasingnounUS /ˈtiːzɪŋ/
the act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "She is crosser than ever," said Julia.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I can't think what has happened to Ruth, she is not at all like her usual self," remarked Ernest that evening.
at the time that
From this reading He had been playfully teasing his cousin about her studies, when she suddenly answered him sharply, burst into a violent flood of tears, and ran away to her own room.
Woburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading "Poor child!" sighed Mrs. Woburn; "I am afraid she has been working too hard.
