used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
(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 If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
announceverbUS /əˈnaʊns/
make known; make an announcement
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/
plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
next to; at the side of
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
country-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
debatingverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
forcibleadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrsəbəl/
impelled by physical force especially against resistance
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
forkedadjectiveUS /fɔːrkt/
resembling a fork; divided or separated into two branches
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
hesitationsnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “hesitation” — indecision in speech or action
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
highroadnoun
a highway
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
highwaynounUS /ˈhaɪweɪ/
a major road for any form of motor transport
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
HoughtonnounUS /ˈhɔːtən/
United States publisher who founded a printing shop that became an important book publisher (1823-1895)
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
irresoluteadjective
uncertain how to act or proceed
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
and nothing more
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
immediately past
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
engage in
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
a particular point in time
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
immediately following in time or order
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
on one occasion
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
an educational institution
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
not in physical motion
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
Susan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
possessing sweep
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
tuckedadjectiveUS /tʌkt/
having tucked or being tucked
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
precisely as stated
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading In the late afternoon she had set out for Aunt Susan’s to announce her decision, but here she was pausing at the turn of the way, still irresolute.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
in or at the place that
From this reading Elizabeth Houghton sat on a big stone beside the road, just where the highway forked, her school books still tucked under her arm.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her round blue eyes stared straight before her, as she tried, with one last effort, to make up her mind.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she went onward by the broad highroad that stretched before her, she would come to the big country-house where her aunt lived and where, once inside the door, all her doubts and hesitations would be swept away by Aunt Susan’s forcible arguments.
but in spite of that
From this reading For a whole week she had been attempting to reach a decision: that very morning she had told herself sternly that the matter must be settled to-day, yet still she had kept on debating inwardly, hour after hour, saying, one moment, “I will,” and the next, “I won’t.”
