used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
matters of personal concern
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
athleticsnounUS /æθˈletɪks/
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
distastefuladjectiveUS /dɪˈsteɪstfəl/
not pleasing in odor or taste
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
foregroundnounUS /ˈfɔːrɡraʊnd/
the part of a scene that is near the viewer
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
a young female
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
HOCKEYnounUS /ˈhɑːki/
a game resembling ice hockey that is played on an open field; two opposing teams use curved hockey sticks try to drive a ball into the opponents' net
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/
plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
immediately past
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
for more time
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
engage in
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Martin'snounUS /ˈmɑːrtənz/
possessive form of “martin” — French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
not any; not one
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
quietedverbUS /ˈkwaɪətɪd/
past form of “quiet” — become quiet or quieter
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
regrettedverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪd/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
an educational institution
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
SeminarynounUS /ˈseməneri/
a private place of education for the young
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
sororitynounUS /sərˈɔːrəti/
a social club for female undergraduates
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Now that class affairs had quieted down, and there was no longer a possibility of being chosen for the sorority, she was forced to lose her place in the foreground of the school affairs, a situation entirely distasteful to such an ambitious girl as Ruth.
teamnounUS /tiːm/
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
teamsnounUS /tiːmz/
plural of “team” — a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
ThanksgivingnounUS /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ/
fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
in or at that place or location
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading Ruth regretted that she had not gone out for athletics from the first; it was too late now to try to make any position on the hockey team.
vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading After the game there was to be a reception to the teams and to the visitors from the other school.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE HOCKEY MATCH Three weeks had passed by, and the girls were making preparations to return to their homes for the Thanksgiving holidays.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The whole school, however, looked forward to the big hockey match with Miss Martin’s Seminary which was to be held the last Saturday before vacation.
