used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
blindingadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/
shining intensely
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
a state at a particular time
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
dismallyadverbUS /ˈdɪzməli/
in a cheerless manner
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
downpournounUS /ˈdaʊnpɔːr/
a heavy rain
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
encouragingadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/
giving courage or confidence or hope
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
to come or go into
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
EXCITINGadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
Harriet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
limbnounUS /lɪm/
one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
Margery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
momentousadjectiveUS /moʊˈmentəs/
of very great significance
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
not any; not one
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
participate in games or sport
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
rainstormnounUS /ˈreɪnstɔːrm/
a storm with rain
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
require as useful, just, or proper
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
suppleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌpəl/
gracefully thin and bending and moving with ease
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And here they sat in a blinding rainstorm with nothing more substantial than their blankets between them and the heavy downpour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN EXCITING MORNING It was not an encouraging situation.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “If there is a game, we shall play,” answered Harriet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Within a few hours the four girls were to enter upon the most momentous undertaking of their lives,—an undertaking that would require them to be in fit physical condition, with clear heads, alert and supple in limb.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There will be no game for you girls to-morrow,” groaned Margery Brown, dismally.
