used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
buttonnounUS /ˈbʌtən/
a round fastener sewn to shirts and coats etc to fit through buttonholes
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
Catty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
darnverbUS /dɑːrn/
repair by sewing
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
lavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
mendverbUS /mend/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
Monty's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
old-worldadjective
characteristic of former times especially in Europe
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
overlookedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkt/
not taken into account
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
a human being
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
pinaforenoun
a sleeveless dress resembling an apron; worn over other clothing
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
primverbUS /prɪm/
assume a prim appearance
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To see her prim figure about the place seemed to Florence like having lavender among her linen.
sewverbUS /soʊ/
fasten by sewing; do needlework
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
shoenounUS /ʃuː/
footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
surprisesnounUS /sərˈpraɪzɪz/
plural of “surprise” — the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
tableclothnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
a covering spread over a dining table
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She was so bright, so clever with them, so full of little surprises.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
in or at that place or location
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
tipnounUS /tɪp/
the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading In her pocket there always lingered some unexpected little present, and at the tip of her tongue some quaint bit of old-world knowledge that was as interesting to grown-up folk as to the children.
being of use or service
From this reading She was useful too, ready with her fingers to darn some little place in a tablecloth that every one else had overlooked, to sew a button on Monty’s little shoe, or to mend a tear in Catty’s pinafore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then it was that Florence discovered that Aunt Anne was really a charming person to have in the house, especially with children.
