used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
abominableadjectiveUS /əˈbɑːmənəbəl/
unequivocally detestable
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading "Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading BLUE GUMS.
brought into existence
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
a youthful male person
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
a young person of either sex
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
at any time
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
the act of giving
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"
GUMSnounUS /ɡʌmz/
plural of “gum” — a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
From this reading BLUE GUMS.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
Hil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
petticoatsnounUS /ˈpetikoʊts/
plural of “petticoat” — undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
regrettingverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪŋ/
inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
Teasdale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Shall we go to Teasdale's this afternoon?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
twitchverbUS /twɪtʃ/
make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
viciousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪʃəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
at the time that
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why wasn't I born a boy, Hil?
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading I never felt so comfortable before in my life as when I wore trousers, and now we have to return to these abominable petticoats."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You don't regret your sex half so much as I do, for I have been regretting it ever since I was a child," answered Hil, giving her skirts a vicious twitch.
