used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading "No, it wasn't," she replied aloud.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
Beniah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
contradictionnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃən/
opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
equivalentnounUS /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/
a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
exasperatingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying or displeasing
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "No, it wasn't," she replied aloud.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
not any; not one
From this reading "No, it wasn't," she replied aloud.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
remonstrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
past form of “retort” — answer back
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
self-justificationnoun
a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At first conscience--for she had an active little one--remonstrated.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
without speaking
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
precisely as stated
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, it wasn't," she replied aloud.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "But," she replied, silently, with a very natural tendency to self-justification, "although Beniah told me not to touch things, I did not _promise_ not to do so?"
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, it was," retorted the something within her in a tone of exasperating contradiction.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "True, but your silence was equivalent to a promise," said something within her.
