used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
Ann's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
Can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
censoriousadjective
harshly critical or expressing censure
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I--I don't seem to know what to do."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I--I don't seem to know what to do."
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
happeningnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋ/
an event that happens
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I--I don't seem to know what to do."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
innocentlyadverbUS /ˈɪnəsəntli/
in a not unlawful manner
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
immediately past
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
engage in
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
narrow-mindedadjective
capable of being shocked
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
not any; not one
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
ratsnounUS /ræts/
plural of “rat” — any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "I--I don't seem to know what to do."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
to a sufficient degree
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
Tony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
ungenerousadjective
lacking in magnanimity
From this reading She had lived long enough to know that there are always a certain number of censorious people sufficiently ungenerous and narrow-minded to make mischief out of any awkward happening, no matter how innocently it may have occurred.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VISITORS' BOOK It was quite true.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were caught like rats in a trap, and Ann's heart sank.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I--I don't seem to know what to do."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Can't you think of any way out, Tony?" she said at last.
