Chapter XVI

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

-ing form of “desert” — leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

set up or found

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

plural of “give” — the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The remainder of the night she had made a martyr of herself.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

sing with closed lips

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The remainder of the night she had made a martyr of herself.

one who suffers for the sake of principle

From this reading The remainder of the night she had made a martyr of herself.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

possessive form of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The remainder of the night she had made a martyr of herself.

not any; not one

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

footwear usually with wooden soles

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

something left after other parts have been taken away

From this reading The remainder of the night she had made a martyr of herself.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

precisely as stated

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading JOHN GIVES HIS NOTICE Aunt Philomela was waiting breakfast in no very good humor.

(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 She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

at the time that

From this reading And when Miss Van Patten had finally stolen into the room, Aunt Philomela had found little relief in her questioning.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She dreamed that Eleanor had run away with a ne’er do well artist, deserting her poor old aunt and her sick father.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading On the previous evening, she had sat up for an hour listening to the unintelligible hum of her niece’s voice without being able to catch a word of what she said.