used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
(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 AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
bronze-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
a female human offspring
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
a young female
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
gossiped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
and nothing more
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
KentnounUS /kent/
a county in southeastern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was the first to be colonized by the Romans
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
Lettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
Lettie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
nimbleadjectiveUS /ˈnɪmbəl/
moving quickly and lightly
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
not any; not one
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
Parker'snounUS /ˈpɑːrkərz/
possessive form of “parker” — United States saxophonist and leader of the bop style of jazz (1920-1955)
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
scarfnounUS /skɑːrf/
a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
an educational institution
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
Speedwellnoun
any plant of the genus Veronica
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
express in words
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To tell the truth, Lettie’s present was for Billy Speedwell, and was a handsome silk scarf—thick and warm—that the bronze-haired girl had been at work on for several days.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading AN EVENING DRIVE Although the weather had been threatening all day, Mildred Kent went over to Lettie Parker’s house after supper, as she had promised.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There had been no school for several days, but the girls were just as busy as Dan and Billy Speedwell.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now her nimble fingers flew as she sat and gossiped with the doctor’s daughter.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They were hard at work finishing certain Christmas presents.
