used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
anew
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
assertingadjectiveUS /əˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
relating to the use of or having the nature of a declaration
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
betrothedadjective
pledged to be married
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
bookedadjectiveUS /bʊkt/
reserved in advance
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
ceremoniesnounUS /ˈserəmoʊniz/
plural of “ceremony” — a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
datesnounUS /deɪts/
plural of “date” — the specified day of the month
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
come to pass
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
not any; not one
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
a relationship between two lovers
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
rosyadjectiveUS /ˈroʊzi/
reflecting optimism
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
sealverbUS /siːl/
make tight; secure against leakage
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
Sheila
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon Sheila had an engagement that she could not get out of, and a dinner afterward.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Already, after their high tragedy and their rosy romance, the little things of existence were asserting their importance.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
at the time that
From this reading When they met again, fully clothed, she was so late to her luncheon that she had to fly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The betrothed couple had no opportunity to seal the engagement with the usual ceremonies.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She had booked these dates without dreaming of what was to happen.
