used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading “Yes, yes, there has been a bad accident.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
any thing at all
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Yes, yes, there has been a bad accident.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
calamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
doctor'snounUS /ˈdɑːktərz/
possessive form of “doctor” — a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/
the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Good gracious!
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading “Good gracious!
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes, yes, there has been a bad accident.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
overstrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Yes, yes, there has been a bad accident.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
precisely as stated
From this reading Is it anything very bad the matter?” asked the doctor’s housekeeper in great concern.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
showing sorrow
From this reading What shall I do?” cried Bertha; and now, under pressure of this new calamity, her overstrained nerves gave way, and, sitting down on the doorstep, she burst into a passion of weeping.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
the least favorable outcome
From this reading The Worst “Oh, what shall I do?
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, yes, there has been a bad accident.
