used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
Alice's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
archnessnoun
inappropriate playfulness
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "MOTHERS ARE QUEER!"
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
BurnhamnounUS /ˈbɜːrnəm/
United States architect who designed the first important skyscraper with a skeleton (1846-1912)
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
a female human offspring
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
Erskine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
give expression to
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
not caught with the senses or the mind
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
mistookverbUS /mɪˈstʊk/
inflected form of “mistake” — identify incorrectly
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
MOTHERSnounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "MOTHERS ARE QUEER!"
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "MOTHERS ARE QUEER!"
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
express a supposition
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/
with tenderness; in a tender manner
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
undividedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndəˈvaɪdɪd/
not parted by conflict of opinion
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading IT was but the week before Alice's expected return, and Mrs. Burnham was out paying afternoon visits.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She had confessed to Erskine that she wanted to get them off of her mind before Alice came, and be able to give undivided attention to her for a while.
wistfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪstfəl/
showing pensive sadness
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
wistfulnessnounUS /ˈwɪstfəlnəs/
a sadly pensive longing
From this reading He felt the wistfulness and mistook its cause, and said tenderly:-- "Poor little mother! you need a daughter, don't you?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I don't suppose you can imagine how I have missed her," she added in a voice that she intended to express archness, but which was almost wistful.
