used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “What is the Little Thing laughing at?”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
an occurrence of something
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
collarnounUS /ˈkɑːlər/
a band that fits around the neck and is usually folded over
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
at any time
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
half-unwilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
hardestadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdəst/
superlative of “hard” — with effort or force or vigor
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading “What is the Little Thing laughing at?”
the sound of laughing
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “What is the Little Thing laughing at?”
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
ParsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
persistverbUS /pərˈsɪst/
continue to exist
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
a special situation
From this reading “What is the Little Thing laughing at?”
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
unpinning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
(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 “How well the Parson is looking, Mary,” said Alice, as she stood before the glass that night, unpinning her collar.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is the Little Thing laughing at?”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why do you persist in turning the man into ridicule?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mary, tired and sleepy as she was, dropped into a chair and shook with half-unwilling laughter.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Alice, you are the hardest case I ever knew.
