used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
in the past
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
argumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/
plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
(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 Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
lacking funds
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
DIPHTHERIAnounUS /dɪfˈθɪriɑː/
acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
EARLYadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
divisible by two
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
fearingverbUS /ˈfɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
enclose with a fence
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
indignantadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪɡnənt/
angered at something unjust or wrong
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
influencedverbUS /ˈɪnfluːənst/
past form of “influence” — have and exert influence or effect
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
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 Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
MarianadjectiveUS /ˈmeriən/
of or relating to or venerating the Virgin Mary
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
an educational institution
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
schoolsnounUS /skuːlz/
plural of “school” — an educational institution
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
at the time that
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Marian said little about it at home, fearing she might not be allowed to go, though the daily paper told the whole story.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why the schools were not closed was a question even in the long ago days when Marian was a child.
wife'snounUS /waɪfs/
possessive form of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Uncle George was indignant, but influenced by his wife's arguments, he allowed Marian to have her way.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading DIPHTHERIA EARLY in the winter, diphtheria broke out in the schools.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Mrs. St. Claire said Marian was better off in school than at home, and in no more danger of catching diphtheria than she would be hanging over the fence talking to passing children.
