used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
having fair knowledge of
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
how long something has existed
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
Dilsey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
enthrallverb
hold spellbound
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
FieldingnounUS /ˈfiːldɪŋ/
(baseball) handling the ball while playing in the field
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
and nothing more
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
Mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
Nettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
old-timeadjective
attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
privationnounUS /praɪˈveɪʃən/
a state of extreme poverty
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading At least, the three girls staying at the Big House did not find it such.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Being kept indoors by the rain was not altogether a privation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dilsey was full of old-time stories—just such stories as were calculated to enthrall girls of the age of Ruth Fielding and her friends.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They became acquainted with Mammy Dilsey during that first day of rain.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
a late time of life
From this reading At least, the girls from the North did; Nettie had been a pet of the old woman for years.
