used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
the state of being absent
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
babiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
forsakingnounUS /fɔːrˈseɪkɪŋ/
the act of forsaking
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
a narrow way or road
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
magicallyadverbUS /ˈmædʒɪkəli/
in a magical manner
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
PopenounUS /poʊp/
the head of the Roman Catholic Church
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
Ruthita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
in or at that place or location
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
a special situation
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was all a guess to us--what lay beyond; but we knew that it must be something splendid.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
at the time that
From this reading What did we hope to find that autumn morning when we slipped through that narrow door, forsaking the walls?
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Of one thing we were quite certain: that at the end of a few days we should have grown tall; we should return to Pope Lane a man and woman.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Perhaps work had been begun already upon the babies that Ruthita wanted.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The little house would be there waiting, magically built in our hours of absence.
