used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
farewellsnounUS /ˌferˈwelz/
plural of “farewell” — an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
a young female
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
only a very short time before
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
homeward-boundadjective
oriented toward home
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN VACATION.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
immediately past
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
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 Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
light-heartedadjective
carefree and happy and lighthearted
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
prospectsnounUS /ˈprɑːspekts/
plural of “prospect” — the possibility of future success
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
on the contrary
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
schoolroomnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
scribbledverbUS /ˈskrɪbəld/
past form of “scribble” — write down quickly without much attention to detail
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
thoughtlessadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtləs/
showing lack of careful thought
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She sat down by the desk, and with her chin resting in the palm of her left hand picked up a pencil and scribbled idly on an envelope that lay at hand.
VACATIONnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading IN VACATION.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading She could hardly keep back the tears as she turned away from the door and walked slowly to the empty schoolroom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
which person or people
From this reading In their own delight the girls were rather thoughtless in farewells to the lonely girl who was left.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Marion felt a little desolate as the last of the light-hearted homeward-bound crowd left the front door with faces bright with the happy prospects before them.
