used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
anew
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading It was awful, too awful for words!
for the reason that
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
BERTHA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was awful, too awful for words!
frowningadjectiveUS /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/
showing displeasure or anger
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
intense and profound fear
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
kinderadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndər/
comparative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
offendedadjectiveUS /əˈfendəd/
emotionally hurt or upset or annoyed
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
out-of-doorsnoun
where the air is unconfined
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
tableclothnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
a covering spread over a dining table
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It was awful, too awful for words!
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading Busy, active Grace, with her tribe of little children, a hopeless, helpless invalid!
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BERTHA stared at the doctor in speechless horror, but he was stirring his coffee again and frowning at the tablecloth as if it had offended him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then she turned and walked out-of-doors, feeling her way with her hands because she could not see.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It was awful, too awful for words!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Why, surely sudden death would have been kinder!
