used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
ancestraladjectiveUS /ænˈsestrəl/
inherited or inheritable by established rules (usually legal rules) of descent
From this reading Welcome to your ancestral home!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “Good morning, Aunt Julia!
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
censoriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Come on up!”
contrivancenounUS /kənˈtraɪvəns/
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
door-bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
Forrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Good morning, Aunt Julia!
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Welcome to your ancestral home!
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good morning, Aunt Julia!
an intermediate platform in a staircase
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
hear with intention
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “Good morning, Aunt Julia!
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
pealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
Polly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
RECEIVESverbUS /rəˈsiːvz/
third-person singular of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
second-floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
push forcefully
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
the main stem of a tree; usually covered with bark; the bole is usually the part that is commercially useful for lumber
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Come on up!”
under normal conditions
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
someone who visits
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
warilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a wary manner
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
accept gladly
From this reading Welcome to your ancestral home!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Polly, the colored maid-of-all-work, admitted Mrs. Forrest warily, though Mrs. Forrest was a woman for whom doors were usually flung wide.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Welcome to your ancestral home!
ZELDA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ZELDA RECEIVES A VISITOR The front door-bell rang--it was an old-fashioned contrivance, on a wire, and pealed censoriously--and Zelda thrust the book back into the trunk and ran to the second-floor landing to listen.