used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
have
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
make calm or still
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
Christina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
at any time
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading SORE HEARTS.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
Nellie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
outwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/
with respect to the outside
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
hurting
From this reading SORE HEARTS.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading A tap at the door made her start; but she did not move, and her mamma came in and stood by her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And now that the strain was removed, she sat as one stunned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
hard to endure
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ever since the afternoon, she had been trying her hardest to be outwardly calm, but the effort had been almost more than her gentle nature was able to bear.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN Nellie shut herself into her room on the evening Christina's plans had been explained, she sat down on a chair, and rested her head on her hand.
