used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
blackenedadjectiveUS /ˈblækənd/
darkened by smoke
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
bowldernoun
a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
brushedadjectiveUS /brʌʃt/
touched lightly in passing; grazed against
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
Deena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
encroachmentsnounUS /ɪnˈkroʊtʃmənts/
plural of “encroachment” — any entry into an area not previously occupied
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
greednounUS /ɡriːd/
excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
markingnounUS /ˈmɑːrkɪŋ/
a distinguishing symbol
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
joined in matrimony
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
Minthrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
pebblyadjective
abounding in small stones
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
resentverbUS /rɪˈzent/
feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
ridgesnounUS /ˈrɪdʒəz/
plural of “ridge” — a long narrow natural elevation or striation
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
filled with satisfaction
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
seaweednounUS /ˈsiːwiːd/
plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
be seated
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
tete-a-tetes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Stephen brushed the top of a low bowlder with his handkerchief and invited Deena to sit down.
untidilyadverb
in a messy, untidy manner
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/
a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
Wolfshead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beach at Wolfshead was pebbly, with rocks thrown untidily about and ridges of blackened seaweed marking the various encroachments of the tide.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading One would think a year of married life would have satisfied their greed for _tete-a-tetes_.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You would be more comfortable," he said, "if Ben would come with the cushions."
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "I am quite comfortable without them," she answered, "though I cannot but resent the Paul and Virginia attitude of the young Minthrops.
