used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
accidentallyadverbUS /ˌæksəˈdentəli/
without advance planning
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
how long something has existed
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
airyadjectiveUS /ˈeri/
open to or abounding in fresh air
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
Amherst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
bedroomsnounUS /ˈbedruːmz/
plural of “bedroom” — a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
billet-doux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
clandestinely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
the body of faculty and students of a college
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
contemporariesnounUS /kənˈtempəreriz/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
encounteredverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntərd/
past form of “encounter” — come together
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
flirtedverbUS /ˈflɜːrtɪd/
past form of “flirt” — talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
gigglingverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
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 She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
inditeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
produce a literary work
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
LAMPSnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
lockingnounUS /ˈlɑːkɪŋ/
the act of locking something up to protect it
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
lunchedverbUS /lʌntʃt/
past form of “lunch” — take the midday meal
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
Madelaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
maturitynounUS /məˈtʃʊrəti/
the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
mid-Septembernoun
the middle part of September
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
MtnounUS /maʊnt/
a radioactive transuranic element
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
an organization to gain political power
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
pimply-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
schoolmatesnounUS /ˈskuːlmeɪts/
plural of “schoolmate” — an acquaintance that you go to school with
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
sighingverbUS /ˈsaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
move stealthily
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
subtlyadverbUS /ˈsʌtəli/
in a subtle manner
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
SummitnounUS /ˈsʌmət/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They lunched, flirted, drank and danced in the great, airy Summit House.
Theddon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had accidentally (?) encountered college boys from Amherst.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
male cat
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading VALLEY LAMPS I Madelaine Theddon was seventeen that autumn.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
which person or people
From this reading She was one of those rare girls who seem to slip subtly into maturity while contemporaries of equal age are giggling over pimply-faced lovers, locking themselves away in bedrooms to indite silly _billet-doux_, sighing over novels or clandestinely “putting up their hair.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
a late time of life
From this reading On an afternoon in mid-September she had climbed Mt. Tom with a party of schoolmates older than herself in nothing but years.
