used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Open it and see!" answered Sally.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
DorisnounUS /ˈdɔːrəs/
(Greek mythology) wife of Nereus and mother of the Nereids
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
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 It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
moldyadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊldi/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Open it and see!" answered Sally.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
one of four equal parts
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
receptaclenounUS /rɪˈsep.tə.kəl/
An object or container used to hold or store something.
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
rustedadjectiveUS /ˈrʌstɪd/
having accumulated rust
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
SallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Open it and see!" answered Sally.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
make square
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MYSTERY Doris received the object from Sally and stood looking at it as it lay in her hands.
thicknessnounUS /ˈθɪknəs/
the dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width
From this reading Its thickness was probably not more than a quarter of an inch.
tinnounUS /tɪn/
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading It was a small, square, very flat tin receptacle of some kind, rusted and moldy, and about six inches long and wide.
wonderinglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading "What in the world is it?" she questioned wonderingly.
