used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
babenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
eyedadjectiveUS /aɪd/
having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
MarshnounUS /mɑːrʃ/
low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
peremptorilyadverb
in an imperative and commanding manner
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
Ratcliffe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
To recall to mind.
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
not in physical motion
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
comparative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
express in words
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
treacherynounUS /ˈtretʃ.ər.i/
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or disloyalty against a host or ally.
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
want-wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
WaynenounUS /weɪn/
United States film actor who played tough heroes (1907-1979)
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
whimpered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Go back to Marsh and tell them there is treachery," whispered Janet.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Mistress Wayne obeyed the stronger will, though still she was afraid of she knew not what.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Mary Mother, must our safety rest with such a want-wit babe as this," muttered Janet.—"Come closer, Mistress!" she went on peremptorily.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The little woman drew near a step or two and eyed her gravely.
an affirmative
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I remember—yes, you are Janet Ratcliffe—why did you fright me so?" she whimpered.
