used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
addressesnounUS /ˈæˈdresɪz/
plural of “address” — (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
(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 The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
blow-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
intentionally conceived
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
daresnounUS /derz/
plural of “dare” — a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
gravestadjectiveUS /ˈɡrævəst/
superlative of “grave” — dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
half-second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
improprietynounUS /ˌɪmprəˈpraɪəti/
an improper demeanor
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
not any; not one
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
in the near future
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
safety-valve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
express in words
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
precisely as stated
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Mamma began--in that tone of voice in which she addresses observations to the servants which she dares them to deny.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The girls and mamma were looking at me--I was conscious of their eyes all over me--and I was looking at the floor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I felt as if I had been guilty of--to say the very least--the gravest impropriety, though I had not the faintest notion how, and was thoroughly well aware that now the storm was about to burst,--which presently it did.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
WORMnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading THE TURNING OF THE WORM No one spoke a word for quite a minute.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading It gives you the impression that she is sitting on the safety-valve, and that in another half-second there will be a blow-up.
