used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
any thing at all
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
Carmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
Carmen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
decorationnounUS /ˌdekərˈeɪʃən/
something used to beautify
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
directingadjectiveUS /dərˈektɪŋ/
showing the way by conducting or leading; imposing direction on
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
your usual mood
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
economizernoun
a frugal person who limits spending and avoids waste
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
economynounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/
the system of production and distribution and consumption
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
finaladjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəl/
occurring at or forming an end or termination
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
furnishingnounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪʃɪŋ/
(usually plural) accessory wearing apparel
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
a young female
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
Henderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
immediately past
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
absolutely essential
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
showing intellectual penetration or emotional depth
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
restrainernoun
a chemical that is added to a photographic developer in order to retard development and reduce the amount of fog on a film
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
express in words
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
suggestionsnounUS /səˈdʒestʃənz/
plural of “suggestion” — an idea that is suggested
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
uninhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətɪd/
not having inhabitants; not lived in
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading For Carmen, as well as for Margaret, the decoration and the furnishing of the house had been an occupation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were looking about the house on its last uninhabited day, directing the final disposition of its contents.
at the time that
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The girl had the whim of playing the part of restrainer and economizer in everything; but Henderson used to say, when Margaret told him of Carmen's suggestions, that a little more of her economy would ruin him.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes,” Margaret admitted, “there does not seem to be anything that is not necessary.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I don't see how you could do with less room,” Carmen said, with an air of profound conviction.
