used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
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 Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
BillingnounUS /ˈbɪlɪŋ/
request for payment of a debt
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
blanklyadverbUS /ˈblæŋkli/
in a blank and uncomprehending manner
From this reading “Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Sister, sister, come out!” she cried.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Sister, sister, come out!” she cried.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
eggsnounUS /eɡz/
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
hopingverbUS /ˈhoʊpɪŋ/
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
intense and profound fear
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
investedverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəd/
past form of “invest” — make an investment
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
leantverbUS /ˈliːənt/
inflected form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
lurchverbUS /lɜːrtʃ/
walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
methodicallyadverbUS /məˈθɑːdɪkəli/
in a methodical manner
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
Mitty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Sister, sister, come out!” she cried.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading “Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative.
recurring again and again
From this reading “Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative.
move hurridly
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
express in words
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
Shafto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading “Sister, sister, come out!” she cried.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading “Dead!” repeated Mitty, staring blankly at her relative.
store-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
Tebbs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
in or at the place that
From this reading Then she made a rush to the store-room, where Miss Mitty, invested in a large blue apron, was methodically marking eggs.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
but in spite of that
From this reading On hearing this announcement, Jane Tebbs gave a little lurch and leant against the wall in speechless horror; and yet in her heart she had been more than half expecting—we will not say hoping for—some tragedy.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Mrs. Billing is here; she says Mr. Shafto is dead; I told you that something had happened!”
