used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
ADOPTIONnounUS /əˈdɑːpʃən/
the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
(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 But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
AuntienounUS /ˈænti/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
Elaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
EliotnounUS /ˈeliət/
British poet (born in the United States) who won the Nobel prize for literature; his plays are outstanding examples of modern verse drama (1888-1965)
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
Eliots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
favoredadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪvərd/
preferred above all others and treated with partiality
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
made afraid
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
the act of departing
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
HyacinthnounUS /ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/
a red transparent variety of zircon used as a gemstone
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
JudithnounUS /ˈdʒuːdəθ/
Jewish heroine in one of the books of the Apocrypha; she saved her people by decapitating the Assyrian general Holofernes
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
mammynoun
an offensive term for a Black nursemaid in the southern U.S.
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
joined in matrimony
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
nursedadjectiveUS /nɜːrst/
(of an infant) breast-fed
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
nurslingnoun
an infant considered in relation to its nurse
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
occupyverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪ/
keep busy with
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
with speed
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
Riverdale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
not often
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading She had nursed, in turn, each of the Daring children and, therefore, was devoted to them and their interests.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
WallacenounUS /ˈwɔːləs/
Scottish insurgent who led the resistance to Edward I; in 1297 he gained control of Scotland briefly until Edward invaded Scotland again and defeated Wallace and subsequently executed him (1270-1305)
From this reading The black mammy was a Daring servant, having followed her nursling Wallace when he married and set up housekeeping at Riverdale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
at the time that
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
a Caucasian
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE “ARTICLES OF ADOPTION” Judith Eliot had been accustomed to act upon her judgment; and to act quickly, and with decision.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
a late time of life
From this reading But Auntie could never understand the favored servant of the Eliots, and through all the years she had known Elaine had seldom exchanged a word with the white woman.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Aunt Hyacinth was half frightened when the young lady returned and said that Elaine had attempted to bar her out of the vacant rooms, but she was going to occupy one of them, nevertheless.
