used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
the state of being absent
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
Cecilia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
Cecilia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
creepverbUS /kriːp/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
put on clothes
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/
forced or compelled or put in force
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
divisible by two
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
harmfuladjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmfəl/
causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
improvementnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənt/
a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
Lettice's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
Prue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
relapseverbUS /riˈlæps/
deteriorate in health
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
SUMMONEDverbUS /ˈsʌmənd/
past form of “summon” — call in an official matter, such as to attend court
From this reading SUMMONED.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE "two or three days" of Lettice's enforced absence from Cecilia's room grew into a fortnight.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Then upon Cecilia's slight improvement followed a severe relapse; and Lettice's presence was not to be thought of.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was allowed to dress, and even to creep into an adjoining room; but this was the utmost that she could be counted fit for.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Prue sometimes wondered whether the strain of being with Cecilia could prove more harmful than the strain of not being with her; but the doctor was firm, and Bertha took his view of the matter.
