used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
anew
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
react verbally
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
bracingnounUS /ˈbreɪsɪŋ/
a structural member used to stiffen a framework
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
concentrateverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəntreɪt/
make denser, stronger, or purer
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
curlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrli/
(of hair) having curls or waves
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
Delia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
characterized by great determination
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
destroyed or killed
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
ice-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
JacksonnounUS /ˈdʒæksən/
English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
the literary culture
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
on one occasion
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
overwroughtadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈrɔːt/
deeply agitated especially from emotion
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
perplexingadjectiveUS /pərˈpleksɪŋ/
lacking clarity of meaning; causing confusion or perplexity
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
with little or no delay
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
relyverbUS /rɪˈlaɪ/
have faith or confidence in
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
suspensenounUS /səˈspens/
apprehension about what is going to happen
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
tonicadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːnɪk/
of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
From this reading The curly head and merry eyes of Chet Jackson at the door was like a bracing tonic to her overwrought nerves.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
hard to endure
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully
From this reading But it was useless, and at length she determined to put an end to her misery and suspense, in that direction at least, and ring for something else.
vainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading So once again she telephoned, this time for ice-water, and waited in breathless suspense for the answering knock.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
withdrawingverbUS /wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/
-ing form of “withdraw” — pull back or move away or backward
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Chester Jackson did not answer this time, it would mean that he too had gone or been removed, and that she was left without a single friend to rely on.
produce a literary work
From this reading Delia having appeared at the time agreed on, and promptly withdrawing to her own room, Patricia continued to worry for an hour and a half over the problem that was perplexing her, trying vainly to write letters or concentrate her mind on a book.
