used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
anew
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
beachesnounUS /ˈbiːtʃəz/
plural of “beach” — an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
chafedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪft/
painful from having the skin abraded
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
the specified day of the month
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
greatly pleased
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
flimsyadjectiveUS /ˈflɪmzi/
lacking solidity or strength
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
set up or found
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/
a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
MinervanounUS /məˈnɜːrvə/
(Roman mythology) goddess of wisdom; counterpart of Greek Athena
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
near-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
and nothing more
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
interact in a certain way
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
precisely as stated
From this reading The date for the trip, however, had been set some time before, and Aunt Minerva would have thought it very strange if they had begged off, for such flimsy reason as they could have offered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
look attentively
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
the act of observing; taking a patient look
From this reading But, as matters stood, they only chafed with impatience to be back at their bedroom window, watching the house next door.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The day after found them again on watch, though what they expected to see they couldn't have told.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE HANDKERCHIEF IN THE WINDOW The next day was spent by the two girls in an expedition to one of the near-by ocean beaches with Aunt Minerva.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Under ordinary circumstances it was a treat that would have delighted their hearts.
