used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
anew
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
ALARMSnounUS /əˈlɑːrmz/
plural of “alarm” — fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
blownadjectiveUS /bloʊn/
being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
bricksnounUS /brɪks/
plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
chagrinnounUS /ʃəˈɡrɪn/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
a young person of either sex
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
ContemplatingverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
DISCOVERIESnounUS /dɪˈskʌvəriz/
plural of “discovery” — the act of discovering something
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
disinclinationnounUS /dɪsɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
that toward which you are inclined to feel dislike
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/
a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading The site was a picture of disorder.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/
past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
foliagenounUS /ˈfoʊlɪdʒ/
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
set up or found
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
temporary military shelter
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
go away from a place
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
mattingnounUS /ˈmætɪŋ/
a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The site was a picture of disorder.
PortionsnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃənz/
plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
a feeling of intense anger
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
resting-places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
ruinsnounUS /ˈruːənz/
plural of “ruin” — an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
shredsnounUS /ʃredz/
plural of “shred” — a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
shrubsnounUS /ʃrʌbz/
plural of “shrub” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
sitenounUS /saɪt/
the piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)
From this reading The site was a picture of disorder.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
structurenounUS /ˈstrʌktʃər/
a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
tattersnounUS /ˈtætərz/
plural of “tatter” — a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
topplesverbUS /ˈtɑːpəlz/
third-person singular of “topple” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Portions of the matting had been blown right away; other portions in shreds and tatters had found resting-places among the foliage of the surrounding trees and shrubs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
precisely as stated
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The site was a picture of disorder.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
Westmacott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth Westmacott and her sisters felt very much the same disinclination to begin again.
at the time that
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
in or at the place that
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
which person or people
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ALARMS AND DISCOVERIES Contemplating the ruins of the hut they had built up with so much care, the girls felt a very natural chagrin.
woebegoneadjectiveUS /ˈwoʊbɪɡɔːn/
worn and broken down by hard use
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You have seen a child who has erected a fine house of bricks fly into a rage when the structure topples by its own weight, or at least look utterly woebegone, and leave the scattered bricks lying where they fell.
