used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
(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 All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
close-cropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
CONVALESCENCEnounUS /ˌkɑːnvəˈlesəns/
gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
the act of departing
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Sandy's heart turned a somersault.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
Hollis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
NelsonnounUS /ˈnelsən/
English admiral who defeated the French fleets of Napoleon but was mortally wounded at Trafalgar (1758-1805)
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
phaëton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
reddenedadjective
(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
Sandy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sandy's heart turned a somersault.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
somersaultnounUS /ˈsʌmərsɔːlt/
an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return
From this reading Sandy's heart turned a somersault.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
torturedadjectiveUS /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Sandy's heart turned a somersault.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading All through his illness he had been tortured by the thought that he had talked of Ruth, though now wild horses could not have dragged forth a question concerning her.
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 CONVALESCENCE "Is that the Nelson phaëton going out the road?" asked Mrs. Hollis as she peered out through the dining-room window one morning.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading He was sitting up for the first time, wrapped in blankets and wearing a cap to cover his close-cropped head.
yearlynounUS /ˈjɪrli/
a reference book that is published regularly once every year
From this reading "I shouldn't be a bit surprised if it was Mrs. Nelson making her yearly visits, and here my bricks haven't been reddened."
