used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
(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 Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
atticnounUS /ˈætɪk/
floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
BrowniesnounUS /ˈbraʊniz/
plural of “brownie” — a junior Girl Scout
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
cobwebsnounUS /ˈkɑːbwebz/
plural of “cobweb” — a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
Connie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
enthusiasticadjectiveUS /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
having or showing great excitement and interest
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
EvergreennounUS /ˈevərɡriːn/
a plant having foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
every person
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
Gordon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
locketnounUS /ˈlɑːkɪt/
a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
take the midday meal
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
not able to be found
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
and nothing more
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
pokingnounUS /ˈpoʊkɪŋ/
a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
rummagingverbUS /ˈrʌmɪdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “rummage” — search haphazardly
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
spendingnounUS /ˈspendɪŋ/
the act of spending or disbursing money
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Connie had suggested the idea immediately after lunch and everyone had been enthusiastic.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
Veve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Everywhere cobwebs hung from file walls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A Stolen Evergreen The Brownies and Veve were spending the afternoon rummaging in Grandmother Gordon’s attic.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The attic had only one small window to let in light.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mrs. Gordon, of course, did not expect the girls to find her missing locket, but she knew they would have a fine time poking about among all the old things.
