used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
in actual fact
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are sure you did not?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
a long seat for more than one person
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
make calm or still
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
set up or found
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
only a very short time before
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
marveledverbUS /ˈmɑːrveld/
past form of “marvel” — be amazed at
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
precipitatedverbUS /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪtɪd/
past form of “precipitate” — bring about abruptly
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
questionedverbUS /ˈkwestʃənd/
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
express in words
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
shacknounUS /ʃæk/
small crude shelter used as a dwelling
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
shrinkingnounUS /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/
process or result of becoming less or smaller
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
with low volume
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
in a strange manner
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
strickenadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You are sure you did not?"
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
a special situation
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Softly she went over to the shrinking man and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
which person or people
From this reading Strangely enough, though it had been Mollie who had precipitated this thing, it was Betty who now took the lead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A STARTLING TALE Hardly able to believe that they were actually living this weird thing, the girls crowded into the shack after the stricken man and found that he had sunk upon a bench and covered his face with his hands.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You say you did not kill your brother?" she questioned in so calm a voice that the girls marveled at her.
