used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
(of mail) marked with a destination
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
the two together, not just one
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
containverbUS /kənˈteɪn/
include or contain; have as a component
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
DotnounUS /dɑːt/
a very small circular shape
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
one or the other of two
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
ELEVATORnounUS /ˈeləveɪtər/
lifting device consisting of a platform or cage that is raised and lowered mechanically in a vertical shaft in order to move people from one floor to another in a building
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
fanningverbUS /ˈfænɪŋ/
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
featsnounUS /fiːts/
plural of “feat” — a notable achievement
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
only a very short time before
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
and nothing more
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter?
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
Neale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
information about recent and important events
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
express in words
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
Tess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
the act of using
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading Don't you want to hear it?" he asked, fanning himself vigorously with his hat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?
at the time that
From this reading THE ELEVATOR "Just a minute now, Neale," said Ruth, in the quiet voice she sometimes had to use when Tess and Dot, either or both, were engaged in one of their many startling feats.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boy had reached the porch, panting from his run, and he had been about to burst out with the news, which he could hardly contain, when Ruth addressed him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Quiet down a bit, please, before you tell us."
