used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
Agnes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
arrestedverbUS /ərˈestɪd/
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
Atheling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
blotting-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
dearly loved
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading GOING FROM HOME.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
girded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
the act of departing
From this reading GOING FROM HOME.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading GOING FROM HOME.
and nothing more
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
immediately past
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
Marian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
preamblenounUS /priˈæmbəl/
a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose)
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
solemnitynounUS /səˈlemnəti/
a trait of dignified seriousness
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Agnes carried her blotting-book, two or three other favourite volumes, and a candle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
a Caucasian
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
WillowsnounUS /ˈwɪloʊz/
plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading Suddenly arrested by the solemnity of this preamble, the girls paused--they were just going up-stairs to their own room on the last evening before setting out for the Willows.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Marian’s pretty arms were full of a collection of pretty things, white as the great apron with which Susan had girded her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “My dear children,” said Mrs Atheling solemnly, “you have never been from home before.”
