used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
(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 There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
ceasesnounUS /ˈsiːsɪz/
plural of “cease” — (“cease” is a noun only in the phrase “without cease”) end
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading COLONEL HERBERT TO THE RESCUE.
consecutivelyadverbUS /kənˈsekjətɪvli/
in a consecutive manner
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading She fell down in a deep and prolonged swoon.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She fell down in a deep and prolonged swoon.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She fell down in a deep and prolonged swoon.
functionsnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃənz/
plural of “function” — (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
HERBERTnounUS /ˈhɜːrbərt/
United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading COLONEL HERBERT TO THE RESCUE.
Herbert'snounUS /ˈhɜːrbərts/
possessive form of “herbert” — United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
Maureen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
O'BriennounUS /oʊˈbraɪɪn/
Irish writer (born in 1932)
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
prolongedadjectiveUS /prəˈlɔːŋd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading She fell down in a deep and prolonged swoon.
free from harm or evil
From this reading COLONEL HERBERT TO THE RESCUE.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
sheddingnounUS /ˈʃedɪŋ/
the process whereby something is shed
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
swoonverbUS /swuːn/
pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
From this reading She fell down in a deep and prolonged swoon.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading COLONEL HERBERT TO THE RESCUE.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading COLONEL HERBERT TO THE RESCUE.
topsy-turvyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːpsiˈtɜːrvi/
in utter disorder
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
uprightadjectiveUS /əˈpraɪt/
in a vertical position; not sloping
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
utteringverbUS /ˈʌtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “utter” — articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When she entered Colonel Herbert's house looking brave and upright, never shedding a tear nor uttering a sigh, that brave little heart of hers suddenly gave way.
at the time that
From this reading There are times in life when the brain ceases to act--that is, consecutively--when the heart ceases to perform its usual functions, and when all life, and all that life means, becomes topsy-turvy.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This happened to be the case with little Maureen O'Brien.
