used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
not being in a specified place
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
(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 An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
concernsnounUS /kənˈsɜːrnz/
plural of “concern” — something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
a social unit living together
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
HarpersnounUS /ˈhɑːrpərz/
plural of “harper” — someone who plays the harp
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
hilaritynounUS /hɪˈlerəti/
great merriment
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
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 The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
not any; not one
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
ordinarilyadverbUS /ˌɔːrdəˈnerəli/
under normal conditions
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
Polly's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
Identical; not different.
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
in or at that place or location
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Saturday holiday seemed a burden to the children.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading An unusual quiet possessed the village, although it was ordinarily quiet enough, in all conscience.
villagersnounUS /ˈvɪlɪdʒərz/
plural of “villager” — one who has lived in a village most of their life
From this reading The villagers conducted their concerns with an absent air, and talked little; but they sighed often.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BUT there was no hilarity in the little town that same tranquil Saturday afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Harpers, and Aunt Polly's family, were being put into mourning, with great grief and many tears.
