used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
(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 It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
a room used primarily for sleeping
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
brushingnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪŋ/
the act of brushing your teeth
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
CONFIDENCESnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədənsɪz/
plural of “confidence” — freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
cowardnounUS /ˈkaʊərd/
a person who shows fear or timidity
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
dearly loved
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
made afraid
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
destroyed or killed
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
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 But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
not in physical motion
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Immediately she heard Jack's voice on the outside.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading But Jean was not a coward, and, still brushing her hair, walked over to her door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was half-past twelve o'clock, and thirty minutes before all the guests in the castle had gone to their own apartments, an informal dance having made them more tired than usual.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading MIDNIGHT CONFIDENCES A FAINT knock at her bedroom door several nights after their picnic in the woods startled Jean.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Please let me in, Jean dear, I hope I haven't frightened you."
