used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading And here her bed was not yet made.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
intentionally conceived
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
dearly loved
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
divisible by two
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And here her bed was not yet made.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading And here her bed was not yet made.
HerewithadverbUS /ˈhɪrˈwɪθ/
(formal) by means of this
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And here her bed was not yet made.
Matilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
mid-afternoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
MondaysnounUS /ˈmʌndiz/
plural of “monday” — the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
rentverbUS /rent/
let for money
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
SaturdaysnounUS /ˈsætərdiz/
plural of “saturday” — the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/
the month following August and preceding October
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
be seated
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Dear Sue (so the letter ran)--Herewith my check for the September rent.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
SueverbUS /suː/
institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
tenetnounUS /ˈtenət/
a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
walnutnounUS /ˈwɔːlnʌt/
nut of any of various walnut trees having a wrinkled two-lobed seed with a hard shell
From this reading Before dropping on the stiff walnut chair Sue had closed the door; ruffled by the feeling that it must be closed, conscious even of guilt.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
WednesdaysnounUS /ˈwenzdeɪz/
plural of “wednesday” — the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
WildenounUS /waɪld/
Irish writer and wit (1854-1900)
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
Wilde'snounUS /waɪldz/
possessive form of “wilde” — Irish writer and wit (1854-1900)
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For it was a tenet of Aunt Matilda's, as of Mrs. Wilde's, that a woman should not sit down before mid-afternoon, and not then on Mondays, Wednesdays or Saturdays.
WormnounUS /wɜːrm/
any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes; also many insect larvae
From this reading |AT about two o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday in early September Sue Wilde opened a letter from the Worm.
but in spite of that
From this reading And here her bed was not yet made.
