used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
candlelighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
cheeryadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪri/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
someone who is a detective
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
fire-warmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
GhostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/
plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
GrannynounUS /ˈɡræni/
the mother of your father or mother
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
greetingsnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋz/
plural of “greeting” — (usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
HowenounUS /haʊ/
United States editor (1920-1993)
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
poiseverbUS /pɔɪz/
be motionless, in suspension
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
on the contrary
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
freed from illness or injury
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
rockernounUS /ˈrɑːkər/
an attendant who rocks a child in a cradle
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Two Ghosts Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
(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 “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
at the time that
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker.
