used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
any thing at all
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
aren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
ImpressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
and nothing more
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
and nothing more
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
Queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
They've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
tiresomeadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərsəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
the upper part of anything
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
create by training and teaching
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading "They've only just time to catch their train," she said, turning to Muriel.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
look attentively
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading First Impressions Patty certainly felt anything but cheerful as she stood at the top of the steps to watch her father and mother drive away, though she put on a brave face, and waved a vigorous farewell.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why aren't they staying all night at the Queen's Hotel?" asked Muriel.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "I hope the man will go fast.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be so tiresome for them to miss it."
