used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
admissionnounUS /ædˈmɪʃən/
the act of admitting someone to enter
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
anew
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
how long something has existed
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
in the past
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
weapons considered collectively
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
contrivancesnounUS /kənˈtraɪvənsɪz/
plural of “contrivance” — a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
dearly loved
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
having the place or position changed
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
divisible by two
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
at any time
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
a young female
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
the act of retaining something
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
Iola
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
kissingnounUS /ˈkɪsɪŋ/
affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
set down according to a plan
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
latchverbUS /lætʃ/
fasten with a latch
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
latchesnounUS /ˈlætʃəz/
plural of “latch” — spring-loaded doorlock that can only be opened from the outside with a key
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
and nothing more
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
one of four equal parts
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
be seated
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
express in words
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I bade her come again in half an hour, and tell my maiden not to sit up for me."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
which person or people
From this reading There was a hand laid upon the latch of the door; for doors, even in great houses, had latches to them, dear reader, in that age of simple contrivances; and Constance asked, "Who is there?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Have you been disturbed, Constance?" asked her cousin, kissing her cheek.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Only by your girl, Susan, about a quarter of an hour ago," replied Constance.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading "Open, Constance, open," said the voice of Iola; and her cousin gave her instant admission, holding out her arms to her, and pressing her to her heart, as if she had thought that the companion of her youth was lost to her for ever.
