used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
Alf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
in a close relation or position in time or space
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/
intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
DETECTIVESnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading LITTLE DETECTIVES.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
groupsnounUS /ɡruːps/
plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
immediately past
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
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 First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading LITTLE DETECTIVES.
managernounUS /ˈmænədʒər/
someone who controls resources and expenditures
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
the force of workers available
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
mutteringnounUS /ˈmʌtərɪŋ/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
not any; not one
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
overheardverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhɜːrd/
inflected form of “overhear” — hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
PetersburgnounUS /ˈpiːtərzbərɡ/
a town in southeastern Virginia (south of Richmond); scene of heavy fighting during the American Civil War
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
with speed
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
rebellionnounUS /rɪˈbeljən/
refusal to accept some authority or code or convention
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
ripenedadjectiveUS /ˈraɪpənd/
of wines, fruit, cheeses; having reached a desired or final condition; (“aged” pronounced as one syllable)
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
scowlingadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊlɪŋ/
sullen or unfriendly in appearance
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last things came to such a point that next to no work was done.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
at the time that
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
in or at the place that
From this reading First, the English governess took fright and left in a hurry for St. Petersburg, where she had friends.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE plot, part of which Alf Oliver had overheard, ripened so quickly that events followed each other closely.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In the factory there was a spirit of rebellion and defiance, and the men, instead of doing their work, were constantly gathering in little groups, muttering and scowling when the manager passed them.
