used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SOME STORIES AND A POEM.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/
occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SOME STORIES AND A POEM.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
evah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
immediately past
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
a room where books are kept
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
Lloyd'snounUS /lɔɪdz/
possessive form of “lloyd” — United States comic actor in silent films; he used physical danger as a source of comedy (1893-1971)
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
measlesnounUS /ˈmiːzəlz/
an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading SOME STORIES AND A POEM.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
To recall to mind.
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME STORIES AND A POEM.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading SOME STORIES AND A POEM.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
a special situation
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
hard to endure
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
Um
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Um, I don't know," answered Joyce, half closing her eyes as she tried to remember.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was the first day after their recovery from the measles that the girls had been allowed to go down-stairs, and they were trying to amuse themselves in the library.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Time had dragged for the last half-hour, and Lloyd's question was welcomed with interest.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
yo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What is the worst thing you evah did in yo' life, Joyce?" asked the Little Colonel.
