used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
apologizeverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪz/
acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
Clarissa's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
clothing in general
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
criticiseverb
find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
fine-lookingadjective
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
frightfuladjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtfəl/
provoking horror
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
Julia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
nondescriptadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːndɪˈskrɪpt/
lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting
From this reading But those others were so—so nondescript.”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But those others were so—so nondescript.”
the time that has elapsed
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
on the contrary
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
reproachnounUS /riˈproʊtʃ/
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
cut with a saw
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
express in words
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But those others were so—so nondescript.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading Clarissa’s red coat is bad enough, but she is rather fine-looking, and she is so decidedly unlike any one else that you don’t have to apologize for her.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, I saw nothing to criticise.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading “Ruth,” exclaimed Julia, with a shade of reproach, “you have changed very much the past year.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You never do, Julia, but they certainly hadn’t a word to say for themselves, and their clothes were frightful.
