used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
(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 And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
any thing at all
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least so everybody thought.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
dreamyadjectiveUS /ˈdriːmi/
dreamy in mood or nature
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
every person
From this reading At least so everybody thought.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
a young female
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At least so everybody thought.
hear with intention
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
engage in
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
To recall to mind.
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
plural of “sens” — street names for marijuana
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At least so everybody thought.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
required or under orders
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading I remember quite distinctly how people talked.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading At least so everybody thought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And now my senses were all shaken up and startled into being.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They did not think I observed or listened, for I had always been a dreamy sort of girl, and never had attended much to what was said about me.
at the time that
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They said I had always to be shaken or pulled when anything was wanted of me, to make me listen--which is true enough, I believe; but nevertheless I was not half so absent as people thought at any time, and heard a great deal that I was not supposed to hear.
