used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
anew
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
dressing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
HEROINEnounUS /ˈheroʊən/
the main good female character in a work of fiction
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
immediately past
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
Nursie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/
the month following September and preceding November
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
pencilsnounUS /ˈpensəlz/
plural of “pencil” — a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
Philomène
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There are ghosts and ghosts, you know, Miss,” replied Nurse decidedly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
tumblersnounUS /ˈtʌmblərz/
plural of “tumbler” — a gymnast who performs rolls and somersaults and twists etc.
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She was almost well again now, though not quite.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading This question was put by Philomène as she sat at her dressing-table on the evening of the last of October, while Nurse brushed out her hair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading IN WHICH THE HEROINE MAKES FRIENDS WITH A SPIRIT “Nursie, do you believe in ghosts?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I don’t hold with modern ghosts myself, your pencils and tumblers and noises made by tables.
