used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
Alix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
(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 They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
alteringnounUS /ˈɔːltərɪŋ/
the sterilization of an animal
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
next to; at the side of
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
blousenounUS /blaʊs/
a top worn by women
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
BradleynounUS /ˈbrædli/
United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998)
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
at any time
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
apart from; not including
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
destroyed or killed
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
heather-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
a small worthless amount
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
immediately past
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
go away from a place
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
and nothing more
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
OwennounUS /ˈoʊən/
Welsh industrialist and social reformer who founded cooperative communities (1771-1858)
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
RosemarynounUS /ˈroʊzmeri/
widely cultivated for its fragrant grey-green leaves used in cooking and in perfumery
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
sidewaysadverbUS /ˈsaɪdweɪz/
with one side forward or to the front
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
skeinnounUS /skeɪn/
coils of worsted yarn
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
a special situation
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You must have been away, I think, for he said nothing of you.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was only a few days after Christmas that a dreadful thing happened to Alix; the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
at the time that
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
which person or people
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
woolnounUS /wʊl/
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
From this reading Alix sat beside Mrs. Bradley on the sofa, turned sideways while she held a skein of wool for her to wind, and she was never to forget the look of that heather-coloured wool.
the act of creating written works
From this reading They were all in the drawing-room after dinner—all except Francis and Jack who had gone to bed;—Ruth writing, Rosemary altering a blouse and Giles reading in his accustomed place.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Alix,” said Mrs. Bradley suddenly, “how was it that Owen didn’t see you when he went to Paris on leave?—that one leave he had; in February last winter.
