used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
anew
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
DOCTOR'SnounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
one or the other of two
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How do I know?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "How do I know?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "How do I know?
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
Lyddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
come together
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
on one occasion
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
Phemie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
shrinkverbUS /ʃrɪŋk/
wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
strawberrynounUS /ˈstrɔːberi/
sweet fleshy red fruit
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
express a supposition
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were back at the strawberry patch before either of them spoke aloud.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both Lyddy and 'Phemie were unwilling to meet the professor under these conditions.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading IN THE OLD DOCTOR'S OFFICE The two girls, almost at once, began to shrink away through the bushes again--and this without a word or look having passed between them.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What _do_ you suppose he was about?" whispered 'Phemie.