Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

later than; following

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

anew

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

react verbally

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A ring at the door bell!

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading A ring at the door bell!

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

the residue that remains after animal fat has been rendered

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

fill with distaste

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading A ring at the door bell!

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with something

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

marked by eager anticipation

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

start firing a weapon

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

brought together in one place

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

a woman host

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

the act of participating in an athletic competition in which you must jump

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

a room in a private house or establishment where people can sit and talk and relax

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

easily agitated

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

on one occasion

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

-ing form of “overturn” — turn from an upright or normal position

From this reading "I'll answer it," cried Betty, jumping up and nearly overturning a chair in her eagerness.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading A ring at the door bell!

a plane figure with the shape of half a circle

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

be seated

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED After dinner in the living-room of the Hostess House, a snapping, dancing, crackling fire in the grate, and the girls gathered in an expectant semicircle about it.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

propel through the air

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

too sacred to be uttered

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

at the time that

From this reading When she returned a couple of minutes later, her face held a look of unutterable disgust.

during the time that

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

in the company of; together with

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They were nervous, too, for every once in a while one of them would get up, look out the window, throw an extra log upon the fire and sit down again with a "why-don't-they-come?" look of impatience upon her face.