used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
affectionatelyadverbUS /əˈfekʃənətli/
with affection
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
(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 MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
auntienounUS /ˈænti/
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
bedsnounUS /bedz/
plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
BerrynounUS /ˈberi/
any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
Blythe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
complainverbUS /kəmˈpleɪn/
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
ennuinounUS /eˈnuːi/
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
goosenounUS /ɡuːs/
web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
hystericaladjectiveUS /hɪˈsterɪkəl/
characterized by or arising from psychoneurotic hysteria
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Truly, Mr. Blythe?"
kill intentionally and with premeditation
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
pennedverbUS /pend/
inflected form of “pen” — produce a literary work
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/
a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Don't be a goose, auntie," her niece smiled affectionately.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Truly, Mr. Blythe?"
not expected or anticipated
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
precisely as stated
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
a Caucasian
From this reading Miss Berry, very white but not at all hysterical, had Blythe penned in a corner by the piano as she asked the question.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading MY UNEXPECTED GUEST "And will they murder us all in our beds?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "The fact is that we were afraid you might complain of ennui, so we have stirred up a little excitement," explained Sam.
