used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
BatesverbUS /beɪts/
third-person singular of “bate” — moderate or restrain; lessen the force of
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
Bates's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
betokened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
blinkingadjectiveUS /ˈblɪŋkɪŋ/
closing the eyes intermittently and rapidly
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
bolsteredverbUS /ˈboʊlstərd/
past form of “bolster” — support and strengthen
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
ChristianitynounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
crisises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
door-bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
experiencing or showing fear
From this reading I hate it, I hate it something fearful!
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
a young female
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading I hate it, I hate it something fearful!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
humorousadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I hate it, I hate it something fearful!
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
LadybirdnounUS /ˈleɪdibɜːrd/
small round bright-colored and spotted beetle that usually feeds on aphids and other insect pests
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
come together
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
muscularadjectiveUS /ˈmʌskjələr/
of or relating to or consisting of muscle
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
a course of conduct
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/
following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/
a shaky motion
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
rectitudenounUS /ˈrektɪtuːd/
righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I hate it, I hate it something fearful!
steadfastlyadverbUS /ˈstedfæstli/
with resolute determination
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
strong-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
suppressedadjectiveUS /səˈprest/
kept from public knowledge by various means
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
tensenounUS /tens/
a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Thus steadfastly pursuing the straight and narrow path of rectitude, Ladybird arrived at Mr. Bates's farm and turned in at the gate.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
waververbUS /ˈweɪvər/
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
at the time that
From this reading "It's a crisis, Mr. Bates," began Ladybird; "it's a perfectly awful crisis; but of course when crisises come they have to be met, and I'm fully prepared to meet it.
belonging to which person
From this reading In a few moments a little girl tense with suppressed excitement, and a blinking, quivering dog sat facing a large, strong-looking man whose face betokened humorous as well as muscular Christianity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her purpose had begun to waver a little, but she bolstered it up with her determination and enthusiasm, and vigorously rang the Bates door-bell.
