used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
dearly loved
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
the act of departing
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
DIXIEnounUS /ˈdɪksi/
the southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
documentsnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəmənts/
plural of “document” — writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
put on clothes
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
Jeanne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
miennounUS /miːn/
dignified manner or conduct
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
nicelyadverbUS /ˈnaɪsli/
in a nice way
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
in other respects or ways
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
by chance
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
petticoatnounUS /ˈpetikoʊt/
undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
with speed
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
quiltedadjectiveUS /ˈkwɪltɪd/
made of layers of fabric held together by patterned stitching
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
solemnitynounUS /səˈlemnəti/
a trait of dignified seriousness
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading STARTING FOR DIXIE The next day passed all too quickly for the parents, but not for Jeanne.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
upliftedadjectiveUS /ˈʌplɪftɪd/
exalted emotionally especially with pride
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "In this petticoat, dear, I have quilted the documents," said Mrs. Vance as she dressed her for her departure.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
be dressed in
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She went about her preparations with an uplifted mien and a solemnity of manner that at another time would have been amusing, but which under the circumstances went to her mother's heart.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "It may be a little heavy, but you need not wear so many skirts as you otherwise would, and perhaps it will not be too warm.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading See how nicely it holds out your dress.
