used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
anew
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
Cap'n
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
a young female
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
destroyed or killed
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
IranounUS /ˈaɪrə/
a militant organization of Irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive British forces from Northern Ireland and achieve a united independent Ireland
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
and nothing more
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
Macklin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
attach to a support
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/
above your head; in the sky
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
PrudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their need entered into her determination to remain if she could.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading They heard her mount the stairs and marked the tread of her light feet overhead.
UNANNOUNCEDadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/
without warning or announcement
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The girl was not thinking of the old people just then.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A CALL UNANNOUNCED Cap'n Ira and Prudence did not see Sheila again that evening, for she slipped in by the kitchen door after they had gone into the sitting room and went up to her own chamber.
at the time that
From this reading But this night was one time when Sheila Macklin thought almost altogether of herself and her personal difficulties.
