used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading ANOTHER ADVENTURE.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
in addition
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading ANOTHER ADVENTURE.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
a youthful male person
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
brakemennounUS /ˈbreɪkmen/
plural of “brakeman” — a railroad employee responsible for a train's brakes
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
conductornounUS /kənˈdʌktər/
the person who leads a musical group
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
a young female
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
the act of departing
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
gum-drops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
ignoredadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːrd/
disregarded
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
not any; not one
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
passengernounUS /ˈpæsəndʒər/
a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
quietestadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪətəst/
superlative of “quiet” — characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
semi-paralysis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
Tilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In reality 'Tilda Jane was in a state of semi-paralysis.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The conductor, after one sharp glance, paid no attention to her, the brakemen paid no attention to her, the boy with the gum-drops and novels ignored her.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
undemonstrativeadjective
not given to open expression of emotion
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
uninterestingadjectiveUS /əˈnɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
in or at the place that
From this reading She had the air of knowing where she was going, and also of being utterly uninteresting, and greatly to her relief she was left entirely to her own devices.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The quietest and most undemonstrative passenger on the night train from Boston was the shabby little girl in the corner, with the bundle beside her on the seat.
