used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
bafflingadjectiveUS /ˈbæfəlɪŋ/
making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
a young person of either sex
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading She could get no clue.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
concubinenounUS /ˈkɑːnkjəbaɪn/
a woman who cohabits with an important man
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could get no clue.
a female human offspring
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
fencingnounUS /ˈfensɪŋ/
a barrier that serves to enclose an area
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She could get no clue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
HerricknounUS /ˈherɪk/
English lyric poet (1591-1674)
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
Kuei-lien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
NancynounUS /ˈnænsi/
a city in northeastern France in Lorraine
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
needn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
not any; not one
From this reading She could get no clue.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
outwittedverbUS /ˈaʊtwɪtɪd/
inflected form of “outwit” — beat through cleverness and wit
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
reservenounUS /rɪˈzɜːrv/
formality and propriety of manner
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could get no clue.
smilinglyadverbUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋli/
with smiles; in a smiling manner
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
up to a particular time
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We needn't bother about it till the time comes."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Kuei-lien tried in vain to learn what had been said between father and daughter.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
which person or people
From this reading She was afraid to ask open questions from the child, who was mistress of a baffling, innocent reserve at times, which outwitted the clever fencing of the concubine.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Herrick smilingly told her that Nancy was too young to think of marriage.
