used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
beetlenounUS /ˈbiːtəl/
insect having biting mouthparts and front wings modified to form horny covers overlying the membranous rear wings
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
deceitnounUS /dɪˈsiːt/
The action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
DisobediencenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/
the failure to obey
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
Elsie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
opinion or judgment
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
flauntedverbUS /ˈflɔːntɪd/
past form of “flaunt” — display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
GubbinsnounUS /ˈɡʌbɪnz/
something unspecified whose name is either forgotten or not known
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
only a very short time before
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
heelnounUS /hiːl/
the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
purposesnounUS /ˈpɜːrpəsəz/
plural of “purpose” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
self-respectingadjectiveUS /ˌselfrɪˈspektɪŋ/
having or showing self-esteem
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
StricklandnounUS /ˈstrɪklənd/
United States architect and student of Latrobe (1787-1854)
From this reading Miss Strickland had great self-control, and she needed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Crushed as flat as a black beetle under the heel of a self-respecting cook.
unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading For a week she had believed Elsie and Peter to be crushed.
at the time that
From this reading When her amazed eyes rested upon Elsie and Peter Gubbins, she could hardly believe them.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Disobedience and deceit united for purposes of pleasure had never so flaunted themselves before her in the whole course of her career.
