used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
in actual fact
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
Barbara's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
confessedverbUS /kənˈfest/
past form of “confess” — confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
recognizable; marked
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
dustedverbUS /ˈdʌstɪd/
past form of “dust” — remove the dust from
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
EugenianounUS /ˌjuːˈdʒiːniə/
tropical trees and shrubs with aromatic leaves and often valuable hard wood
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
a young female
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
headachenounUS /ˈhedeɪk/
something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
immediately past
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
Nona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
nursesnounUS /ˈnɜːrsəz/
plural of “nurse” — one skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
nursingnounUS /ˈnɜːrsɪŋ/
the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
and nothing more
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
possessing sweep
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But each girl had one day of rest and by chance this happened to be Barbara’s.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At present the four American girls were on day duty and remained at the hospital from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, their places being taken by other nurses at that hour.
at the time that
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Eugenia sat in an old oak chair in the farmhouse dining room while Barbara swept and dusted.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading It was the morning after her experience in the woods and actually she had confessed to a headache and had decided not to go to the field hospital for her daily nursing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Eugenia had been asleep when Nona and Mildred went away to work and only in the last half hour had crept downstairs.
