used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
(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 First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
in addition
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
awhileadverbUS /əˈwaɪl/
for a short time
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
clothing in general
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/
get or gather together
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
countedverbUS /ˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
demanding attention
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
set up or found
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
destroyed or killed
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
and nothing more
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
engage in
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
nailsnounUS /neɪlz/
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
not any; not one
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
pegsnounUS /peɡz/
plural of “peg” — a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
a full supply
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
scrubbingnounUS /ˈskrʌbɪŋ/
the act of cleaning a surface by rubbing it with a brush and soap and water
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
splashingnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪŋ/
the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
not in physical motion
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading First she must make herself clean; so, dropping all her clothes, she gave herself, for the first time in her life, a good scrubbing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This had the happiest effect, for, after she had gone over and over the nails, a few quiet thoughts came to her.
ventingnounUS /ˈventɪŋ/
the act of venting
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
precisely as stated
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Laura had been astonished before, she was still more so now, and so much so that she really could not collect her thoughts.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She felt like crying, but she could not; she felt angry, but there was no way of venting anger; so she just sat still on the floor awhile and counted the nails in the boards.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading She made a great splashing, and succeeded in getting the floor very wet; but she also made herself very sweet and nice, and found plenty of clean clothes ready for her hanging on the pegs.
