used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
any thing at all
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
cambricnoun
a finely woven white linen
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
past form of “command” — be in command of
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
dabbingverbUS /ˈdæbɪŋ/
inflected form of “dab” — apply (usually a liquid) to a surface
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
diligentlyadverbUS /ˈdɪlədʒəntli/
with diligence; in a diligent manner
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
drawernounUS /drɔːr/
a boxlike container in a piece of furniture; made so as to slide in and out
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
futilelyadverb
in a futile and unproductive manner
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
a young female
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
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 "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
the force of workers available
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
have ownership or possession of
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
pliedverbUS /plaɪd/
inflected form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
free from harm or evil
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
RiversnounUS /ˈrɪvərz/
plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
a person, without saying who
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
very small
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I hurried into my bedroom and hastily grabbed a fresh handkerchief from a drawer, which I brought to the excited girl.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Thanks," she said, as she grasped it and plied it diligently; "now, men, we must get busy!
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It's after five o'clock, Olive went away before four,--anything may have happened to her--we _must_ rescue her!"
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "We will!" exclaimed Case Rivers, showing more energy than I knew he possessed.
wispnounUS /wɪsp/
a small tuft or lock
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
Zizi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give me a handkerchief, somebody!" commanded Zizi, and not without reason, for her own tiny wisp of cambric was nothing but a wet ball, which she was futilely dabbing into her big black eyes.
