used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
anew
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
how long something has existed
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
believingnounUS /bɪˈliːvɪŋ/
the cognitive process that leads to convictions
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
breast-pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
Carter'snounUS /ˈkɑːrtərz/
possessive form of “carter” — Englishman and Egyptologist who in 1922 discovered and excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen (1873-1939)
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
disappointingly unsuccessful
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
an act that fails
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
a social unit living together
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
good-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/
the sound of light blow or knock
From this reading “Never mind!” said he, tapping his breast-pocket with a knowing air; and she hurried down the steps as best she could.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two friends smiled as their eyes met.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
veilingnounUS /ˈveɪlɪŋ/
a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
(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 Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nor were we disappointed; and this time, warned by the failure of the preceding day, we had kept Laura well in hand; so that she was ready on the front steps as he was passing.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading That evening, as I bade the family good-night, after with some difficulty escaping from Mrs. Carter’s urgent invitation to dine with them again next day, I agreed to call immediately after dinner, so as to be on hand should the Stranger, as we thought likely, return in search of Laura.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Where is it?” asked she, a sudden cloud of anxiety veiling her young face,—for, with those of her age, not seeing is not believing.
