Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The note was an unimportant one.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

an occurrence of something

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

usually; as a rule

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

the act of departing

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

a brief written record

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

many times at short intervals

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The note was an unimportant one.

and nothing more

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

by chance

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading She could have sent it by a servant at any minute of the day.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

coming after or following

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Since the fact was there, I must have come to know it--in the long run."

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

not important

From this reading The note was an unimportant one.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.

produce a literary work

From this reading It was strange to think that if, on finishing her coffee in her room, she had looked in on the children, as she generally did, instead of going down to the drawing-room to write a note, her whole life might have been different.

a late time of life

From this reading "Why didn't I?" was the question she often asked herself in the succeeding years, only to follow it with the reflection: "But perhaps it would have happened in any case.