used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
atomnounUS /ˈætəm/
(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
Bayport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
crushingadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌʃɪŋ/
physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
cuffsnounUS /kʌfs/
plural of “cuff” — the lap consisting of a turned-back hem encircling the end of the sleeve or leg
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
increase twofold
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
horrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəfaɪd/
stricken with horror
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
mastoidadjective
of or relating to or in the region of the mastoid process
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
nervenounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
penancenounUS /ˈpenəns/
remorse for your past conduct
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a light shade of red
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
QuestnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
soiledadjectiveUS /sɔɪld/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
spongesnounUS /ˈspʌndʒəz/
plural of “sponge” — a porous mass of interlacing fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals and usable to absorb water or any porous rubber or cellulose product similarly used
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
steeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
summoningnounUS /ˈsʌmənɪŋ/
calling up supposed supernatural forces by spells and incantations
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The next day her aunt came up from Bayport.
waifnounUS /weɪf/
a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a Caucasian
From this reading The uniform was pink with white cuffs, apron, and cap.
which person or people
From this reading She never forgot the first blood that soiled it—from a double mastoid operation on a little waif of twelve who had never been able to count more than six.
widenedverbUS /ˈwaɪdənd/
past form of “widen” — become broader or wider or more extensive
From this reading She held sponges, horrified, crushing back the terror that widened her grey eyes, steeling herself to look, summoning every atom of strength and resolution and nerve to see her through.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
a late time of life
From this reading And, a week later, she went away to Bayport with Miss Quest to begin what seemed to her an endless penance of two years’ hospital training.
