used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
(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 And she had given up all the love of her heart to Hetty.
AlternativelyadverbUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvli/
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
at or in or to any place
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
encumbrancenoun
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
made afraid
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading And she had given up all the love of her heart to Hetty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading And she had given up all the love of her heart to Hetty.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
Hetty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/
(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading And she had given up all the love of her heart to Hetty.
a female domestic
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
Mamie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
easily agitated
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
not any; not one
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
and nothing more
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
petnounUS /pet/
a domesticated animal kept for companionship or amusement
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
secondaryadjectiveUS /ˈsekənderi/
being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And she had given up all the love of her heart to Hetty.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Hetty darted up the secondary staircase intent only on her little charge.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Alternatively her mother's pet and encumbrance, Mamie had been driven back upon herself.
on a floor above
From this reading It was quite silent upstairs; there was no sign of a maid anywhere.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The child was unusually nervous and imaginative, as if she had been frightened by the ghost stories of a foolish nurse.
