Chapter VIII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

(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 "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "And what is that?"

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

according with custom or propriety

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

lacking definite form or limits

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

-ing form of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

put on clothes

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

in fancy clothing

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "And what is that?"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

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 I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

above and across; more than

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

on the contrary

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

plural of “suit” — a set of garments (usually including a jacket and trousers or skirt) for outerwear all of the same fabric and color

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "And what is that?"

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "O mother! that is a great deal too dressy," I exclaimed.

(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 "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "And what is that?"

in the company of; together with

From this reading I asked, pausing with my hand on the handle of mother's door.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THE FLOUR IN THE CAKE "Put on the least becoming dress you have got, Westenra," said mother.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well," said my mother, considering, "it is a little difficult, for all your dresses are perfectly sweet; but I think if there is one that suits you rather less than another it is that cloudy blue with the silver gauze over it."