used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
airilyadverb
in a flippant manner
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
react verbally
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
beastlyadjectiveUS /ˈbiːstliː/
(informal) very unpleasant
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
lacking funds
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
every person
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
apart from; not including
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
Gomme's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
and nothing more
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
Modeyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
Netherby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
Noll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
pensiveadjectiveUS /ˈpensɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
pshawed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Noll pshawed airily: “I’ve known a lot,” said he.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading “I have never spoken to an author,” she said.
the season of growth
From this reading She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
tediousadjectiveUS /ˈtiːdiəs/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
(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 She had not imagined the spring of literature as running in so dingy a well.
at the time that
From this reading “They’re just like everybody else, except when they think they are not--and then they are beastly tedious.”
Wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Wherein Miss Betty Modeyne is introduced to the Study of Nature_ As they stood on the doorstep, waiting for the answer to their ring at Netherby Gomme’s bell, Betty broke a pensive silence:
