used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
how long something has existed
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
counternounUS /ˈkaʊntər/
table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
customernounUS /ˈkʌstəmər/
someone who pays for goods or services
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
command with authority
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
fetchedverbUS /fetʃt/
past form of “fetch” — go or come after and bring or take back
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
Finibald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
a young female
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
grandchildnounUS /ˈɡrændtʃaɪld/
a child of your son or daughter
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
held up in the air
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
fasten with a lock
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
a particular point in time
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
packetnounUS /ˈpækət/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
express in speech
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She fetched the steps, and in a moment had climbed and lifted down a box.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Madame Finibald, with an exclamation, snatched it from the girl's hand, and began, as if here had been a little grandchild recovered to her old age, to speak with tenderness of its merits.
tossverbUS /tɔːs/
throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading Her hair came below her knees; every moment she had to toss it back out of her face.
in the direction of
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
twiningverbUS /ˈtwaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “twine” — spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
unaffectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
untwining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The girl stood near, twining and untwining a lock around her finger, while she unaffectedly looked at the customer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
wrappernounUS /ˈræpər/
a loose dressing gown for women
From this reading She set it on the counter; she opened it herself and held towards him, with a direct glance, a packet with a red rose printed on the wrapper.
