used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
Brandon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
Cuming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
cyclonenounUS /sɪˈkloʊn/
(meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
Dorothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
easy-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
EAVESDROPPERnoun
a secret listener to private conversations
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a feeling of excitement
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
opinion or judgment
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
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 “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
miniaturenounUS /ˈmɪniətʃʊr/
painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
QUEEN'SnounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
precisely, exactly
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
express in words
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
a person, without saying who
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “It must, of course, be something of much importance, considering it’s almost an hour since you left me.”
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
sweepingadjectiveUS /ˈswiːpɪŋ/
taking in or moving over (or as if over) a wide area; often used in combination
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
Trixy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dorothy shifted her fair head from its position on the cushions of her easy-chair and turned her blue eyes upon the speaker.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, what has happened, Trixy?” she asked with languid interest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was afraid somebody would be here and I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to you right away.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK “Say, Dorothy!” cried Beatrice Cuming, sweeping into Miss Brandon’s apartment with the energy and enthusiasm of a miniature cyclone; “I’m so glad to catch you alone--so glad!
