used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
batheverbUS /beɪð/
cleanse the entire body
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
dodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
edgedadjectiveUS /edʒd/
having a specified kind of border or edge
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
eyrienounUS /ˈeri/
the lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle)
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
forwardsadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərdz/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
gainingverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
usually; as a rule
From this reading The twins loved their window-seat, and generally read their home-letters in it.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
the act of departing
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
home-letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The twins loved their window-seat, and generally read their home-letters in it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The twins loved their window-seat, and generally read their home-letters in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
linersnounUS /ˈlaɪnərz/
plural of “liner” — (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
held dear
From this reading The twins loved their window-seat, and generally read their home-letters in it.
a particular point in time
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
queriesnounUS /ˈkwɪriz/
plural of “query” — an instance of questioning
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading The twins loved their window-seat, and generally read their home-letters in it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
twinsnounUS /twɪnz/
(mineralogy) two interwoven crystals that are mirror images on each other
From this reading A LETTER FROM HOME THE twins did not lose a moment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading They edged through the crowd of girls, dodged one or two laughing queries about their bathe, and, gaining the staircase, fled up to their eyrie on the second floor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
at the time that
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading But when they had read this one they faced each other with eyes wide with dismay.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
window-seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was a little room, with a big window, and a deep window-seat from which could be seen the Bay and the big liners going up and down on their way backwards and forwards across the world.
