used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
the state of being absent
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
anew
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
braceverbUS /breɪs/
prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
Briarcroft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
compassionnounUS /kəmˈpæʃən/
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/
to double the degree
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
forlornadjectiveUS /fərˈlɔːrn/
marked by or showing hopelessness
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
Gipsynoun
a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
Gordons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
hesitatinglyadverb
with hesitation; in a hesitant manner
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
intense and profound fear
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
InquisitionnounUS /ˌɪn.kwɪˈzɪʃ.ən/
A period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
interviewsnounUS /ˈɪntərvjuːz/
plural of “interview” — the questioning of a person (or a conversation in which information is elicited); often conducted by journalists
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
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 She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
hear with intention
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
mercenarynounUS /ˈmɜːrsəneri/
a person hired to fight for another country than their own
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
easily agitated
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
information about recent and important events
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
not any; not one
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
and nothing more
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
Poppleton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
Principal'snounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəlz/
possessive form of “principal” — the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
reproaches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
an educational institution
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
tappedadjectiveUS /tæpt/
in a condition for letting out liquid drawn out as by piercing or drawing a plug
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
in the direction of
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No news of her father had arrived during her absence, and she was received with black looks by Miss Poppleton.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
at the time that
From this reading She tried to brace herself for the ordeal when ordered to the study, but her heart failed her as she tapped at the door, and she entered with something of the apprehension of a victim of the Inquisition facing the torture chamber.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had begun to dread, with a shrinking, nervous horror, those futile interviews with the Principal--interviews in which she could only state again how little she knew, and listen to fresh reproaches.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A School Mystery AFTER the delightful three weeks spent with the Gordons, Gipsy felt that so pleasant an experience of English home life made it doubly difficult to return to Briarcroft.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She advanced hesitatingly towards the Principal's desk, and stood without speaking, a forlorn enough little figure to have excited compassion in the most mercenary heart.
