used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
achingadjectiveUS /ˈeɪkɪŋ/
causing a dull and steady pain
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Ruth began to grow anxious.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
bandagenounUS /ˈbændɪdʒ/
a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Ruth began to grow anxious.
bricknounUS /brɪk/
rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
emigrantsnounUS /ˈeməɡrənts/
plural of “emigrant” — someone who leaves one country to settle in another
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
fanciesnounUS /ˈfænsiz/
plural of “fancy” — something many people believe that is false
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
gripingnounUS /ˈɡraɪpɪŋ/
acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Ruth began to grow anxious.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
Katy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
landlordsnounUS /ˈlændlɔːrdz/
plural of “landlord” — a landowner who leases to others
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
leasenounUS /liːs/
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
held up in the air
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
Nettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
pillownounUS /ˈpɪloʊ/
a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
prolongverbUS /prəˈlɔːŋ/
lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
the possibility of future success
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
rapaciousadjectiveUS /rəˈpæʃɪs/
living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
rentsnounUS /rents/
plural of “rent” — a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or service
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth began to grow anxious.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
tenementsnounUS /ˈtenəmənts/
plural of “tenement” — a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ruth began to grow anxious.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The prospect was not one to call up cheerful fancies.
look attentively
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Katy had been gone now a long while.
which person or people
From this reading Opposite was one of those large brick tenements, let out by rapacious landlords, a room at a time at griping rents, to poor emigrants, and others, who were barely able to prolong their lease of life from day to day.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading She lifted her head from the pillow, took off the wet bandage from her aching forehead, and taking little Nettie upon her lap, sat down at the small window to watch for Katy.
