Chapter CCXLIX

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

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

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

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

according with custom or propriety

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

part of a dress above the waist

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

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

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

put on clothes

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Did she mean to go out?

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

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

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

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 It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Did she mean to go out?

used to form the superlative

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

to a great degree or extent

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

comparative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

express in words

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

an edge tool having two crossed pivoting blades

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

an elevated geological formation

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off)

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

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

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Did she mean to go out?

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading It was not in the least indecent, but it was prettier than usual.

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

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

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

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

at the time that

From this reading When evening came, Jean Valjean went out; Cosette dressed herself.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

belonging to which person

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She made her toilet thus without knowing why she did so.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading She arranged her hair in the most becoming manner, and she put on a dress whose bodice had received one snip of the scissors too much, and which, through this slope, permitted a view of the beginning of her throat, and was, as young girls say, “a trifle indecent.”