used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The back sitting-room was used as the schoolroom.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The back sitting-room was used as the schoolroom.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
cleanlinessnounUS /ˈklenlinɪs/
the habit of keeping free of superficial imperfections
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
door-step
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
Draeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
footprintnounUS /ˈfʊtprɪnt/
a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
knockernoun
(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
Lavinia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
Lavinia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
staying power
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
longestadverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡəst/
for the most time
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
marverbUS /mɑːr/
make imperfect
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
not any; not one
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
paintverbUS /peɪnt/
make a painting
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
schoolroomnounUS /ˈskuːlruːm/
a room in a school where lessons take place
From this reading The back sitting-room was used as the schoolroom.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The back sitting-room was used as the schoolroom.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
sorelyadverbUS /ˈsɔːrli/
to a great degree
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
tablesnounUS /ˈteɪbəlz/
plural of “table” — a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
carry out
From this reading More than twenty children Miss Lavinia could not take.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The back sitting-room was used as the schoolroom.
precisely as stated
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
whitenessnounUS /ˈwaɪtnəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
whiteradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪtər/
comparative of “white” — being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light
From this reading Although Miss Lavinia's door was sorely in need of a coat of paint, no house in Draeth had a brighter knocker, and no door-step was whiter than hers.
which person or people
From this reading The twenty boys and girls who were Miss Lavinia's pupils had learned to respect the whiteness of this step, and on muddy days they jumped over it so that no footprint should mar its cleanliness.
window-seats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were tables and chairs for the children with the longest legs, while the very little ones sat on the two low window-seats.
