used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
(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 But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
AnanounUS /ˈɑːnə/
mother of the ancient Irish gods; sometimes identified with Danu
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
Ana's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
Apelza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
ChristiansnounUS /ˈkrɪstʃənz/
plural of “christian” — a religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
Comunero
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
distaffnoun
the sphere of work by women
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
flocknounUS /flɑːk/
a church congregation guided by a pastor
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
made afraid
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
Getafe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
Jeromín
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
and nothing more
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
immediately past
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
Leganés
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
master'snounUS /ˈmæstərz/
possessive form of “master” — an artist of consummate skill
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
Medina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
MoorsnounUS /mʊrz/
plural of “moor” — one of the Muslim people of north Africa; of mixed Arab and Berber descent; converted to Islam in the 8th century; conqueror of Spain in the 8th century
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
sacramentsnounUS /ˈsækrəmənts/
plural of “sacrament” — a formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
Sancha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
an educational institution
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
scoldingnounUS /ˈskoʊldɪŋ/
rebuking a person harshly
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
a male human offspring
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
sparrowsnounUS /ˈsperoʊz/
plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
strickenadjectiveUS /ˈstrɪkən/
grievously affected especially by disease
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
vespersnoun
the sixth of the seven canonical hours of the divine office; early evening; now often made a public service on Sundays
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The children from Leganés were coming back to the village, playing as usual by the way at Moors and Christians.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Like a flock of frightened sparrows the children of Leganés arrived that afternoon at Ana de Medina's door, just as the bells were ringing for vespers.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
which person or people
From this reading But there was good cause for all this, and twenty shrill voices hastened to explain it to Ana, who, startled, came to the door distaff in hand, and a scolding on her lips.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ana's son Jeromín was the first to get there, with his big blue eyes staring and his beautiful golden hair thrown back.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading There was no school in Getafe that afternoon; the sun had stricken down Sancha Apelza, the master's wife, while working on the farm of the Comunero, and she was to receive the last sacraments that night.
