used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
(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 I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
the first light of day
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
deservedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvd/
properly deserved
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
DIANAnounUS /daɪˈænə/
English aristocrat who was the first wife of Prince Charles; her death in an automobile accident in Paris produced intense national mourning (1961-1997)
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
accept an excuse for
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
HEARSverbUS /hiːrz/
third-person singular of “hear” — perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
humiliatedadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪd/
subdued or brought low in condition or status
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
Lilian's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
a female domestic
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
MortonnounUS /ˈmɔːrtən/
United States jazz musician who moved from ragtime to New Orleans jazz (1885-1941)
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
information about recent and important events
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
punishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌnɪʃt/
subjected to a penalty (as pain or shame or restraint or loss) for an offense or fault or in order to coerce some behavior (as a confession or obedience)
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
steamingadjectiveUS /ˈstiːmɪŋ/
filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist
From this reading After I had had a cold bath, however, I felt better, and a cup of steaming hot coffee afterwards did me good.
thankfuladjectiveUS /ˈθæŋkfəl/
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading If I had been vain, and deserved to be punished for my vanity, then I was well punished now; I felt so ashamed and humiliated.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I was all dressed when Morton, Aunt Lilian's maid, knocked at my door to ask if I were up, and if she could help me do my hair.
at the time that
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading DIANA HEARS NEWS It seemed as if the night would never end.
but in spite of that
From this reading It must have been long after one when I went to bed, yet I was thankful when dawn came, and gave me an excuse to get up.
