used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
one or the other of two
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
a young female
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
a particular point in time
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
compacted by ironing
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
with speed
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
in the near future
From this reading Soon after Dan could be heard returning.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
suppressedadjectiveUS /səˈprest/
kept from public knowledge by various means
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/
in a tight or constricted manner
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an instant of waiting, then a little cry quickly suppressed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was small and her face was pale; at the moment her lips were pressed tightly together.
at the time that
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
which person or people
From this reading But when he appeared he was half leading, half carrying, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who did not look like a formidable intruder.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, in spite of her effort at self-control, her eyes were full of tears, either of anger, embarrassment or pain.
