used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
(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 "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
any thing at all
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
for the reason that
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
a state at a particular time
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
Eiranoun
a genus of Mustelidae
From this reading "It's all very queer," said Eira meditatively.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
Ferraby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
foolhardyadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlhɑːrdi/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
great-grand-aunt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
come to pass
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
hedgedadjectiveUS /hedʒd/
evasively worded in order to avoid an unqualified statement
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's all very queer," said Eira meditatively.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
meditativelyadverb
in a meditative manner
From this reading "It's all very queer," said Eira meditatively.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
promisesnounUS /ˈprɑːməsəz/
plural of “promise” — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "It's all very queer," said Eira meditatively.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
speciallyadverbUS /ˈspeʃəli/
in a special manner
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
express in words
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
up to a particular time
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
precisely as stated
From this reading "It's all very queer," said Eira meditatively.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
at the time that
From this reading "Till the other day when Mr Ferraby told us about it, we really knew very little ourselves.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Because," said Betty slowly, "I've got a curious feeling now that some day something else will happen, and I don't want to be hedged in by promises to Frances, promises of not doing anything `foolhardy,' as she would call it.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said Betty, "I did, and he promised he would not, on condition that I would tell him all about our great-grand-aunt's ghost some time or other."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But why do you specially not want Frances to know of your fright?"
