used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
how long something has existed
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
aislenounUS /aɪl/
a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
any thing at all
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
in a state of sleep
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
broadlyadverbUS /ˈbrɔːdli/
without regard to specific details or exceptions
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/
stopped up; clogged up
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
a long fixed look
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
a young female
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
impulsivelyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpʌlsɪvli/
in an impulsive or impetuous way; without taking cautions
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
red-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
past form of “respond” — show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
express in words
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
strokingnounUS /ˈstroʊkɪŋ/
a light touch with the hands
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
SwingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
express in words
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Swinging her chair sharply about to face the aisle, she met the amused gaze of a red-haired girl of about her own age.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What?”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “Tell me,” begged Patricia impulsively, leaning forward, “was I—doing anything—unusual while I was asleep?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I’ll say you were,” responded the girl, smiling broadly.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You—you were—stroking the ankles of that young man back of you as if your life depended on it,” choked the stranger.
