used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
(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 SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
Appleby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
Billie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
ErnounUS /ər/
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
From this reading “Er—how do you do?” she said.
divisible by two
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
to an extreme degree
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
enclose in or as if in a frame
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
a young female
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Er—how do you do?” she said.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
inspectingverbUS /ˌɪnˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “inspect” — look over carefully
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
Josiah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
the quality of being just or fair
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
kindestadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndəst/
superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
a particular point in time
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
portrait's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Er—how do you do?” she said.
express in words
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
SHOCKSnounUS /ʃɑːks/
plural of “shock” — the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
squeakily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
having a supporting base
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
a special situation
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
tiltedadjectiveUS /ˈtɪltɪd/
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading The edge of the portrait’s frame tilted her hat out of the straight, but in this supreme moment she did not even notice it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
hard to endure
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
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 SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She now shrank back against this wall, as if she were trying to get through it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SHOCKS ALL ROUND Billie had been standing near the wall, inspecting a portrait of the late Mr. Josiah Appleby, of which the kindest thing one can say is that one hopes it did not do him justice.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she had not been an exceedingly pretty girl, one would have said that she spoke squeakily.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Er—how do you do?” she said.
