used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
actressesnounUS /ˈæktrəsɪz/
plural of “actress” — a female actor
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "It certainly was--the best diamond I had.
boldlyadverbUS /ˈboʊldli/
with boldness, in a bold manner
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "It certainly was--the best diamond I had.
dearly loved
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
diamondnounUS /ˈdaɪmənd/
a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading "It certainly was--the best diamond I had.
Dixon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
opinion or judgment
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "It certainly was--the best diamond I had.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "It certainly was--the best diamond I had.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
a particular point in time
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
Pennington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
and nothing more
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
VARLEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
vaudevillenounUS /ˈvɑːdvɪl/
a variety show with songs and comic acts etc.
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
wide-openadjective
open wide
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
winkedverbUS /wɪŋkt/
past form of “wink” — signal by winking
From this reading On their part they stared boldly at Ruth, and then Miss Dixon turned and slightly winked at Miss Pennington.
in the company of; together with
From this reading LIEUTENANT VARLEY For a moment Ruth stood looking with wide-open eyes at the two former vaudeville actresses.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I simply won't let it be lost--or taken.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "That was one of your valuable rings, wasn't it, dear?" asked Miss Pennington, in deliberate tones.
