used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
any thing at all
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
clandestineadjectiveUS /klænˈdestɪn/
conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
set up or found
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
leaguenounUS /liːɡ/
an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
Maggie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
a course of conduct
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
a source of difficulty
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
WILDERNESSnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading THE PATH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS Frances slept badly that night.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading There seemed to be a league among the sisters against their brother’s authority, and she felt that against her will she had been drawn into it.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There were a good many things to trouble her and keep her brain at work.
worriedadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrid/
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
From this reading The thought of Maggie’s clandestine love affair worried her most, though why this should have been so she could not have said.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would have given anything not to have overheard that talk in the kitchen, but she found it impossible to forget it.
