used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
BlairnounUS /bler/
British statesman who became prime minister in 1997 (born in 1953)
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
children's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
chrysanthemumnounUS /krɪˈsænθəməm/
the flower of a chrysanthemum plant
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
a social unit living together
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
Marion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
Marjorie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
overflowingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərfloʊɪŋ/
covered with water
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
with speed
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
having a supporting base
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
sunburnedadjectiveUS /ˈsʌnbɜːrnd/
suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Only the children’s sunburned faces and hands, and their overflowing health and spirits, remained as proof positive that they had not been in town all summer.
town-life
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
precisely as stated
From this reading The household settled into their town-life very quickly, and in three days’ time they almost felt as if their lovely summer had been a dream.
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m afraid we’ll lose the chrysanthemum show altogether.”
in or at the place that
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading “How strange it is that Marion Blair does not call for me,” said Marjorie, one day, turning away from the window, where she had been standing in hat and coat, for half an hour.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “She said she would be here at three, and it is nearly four now.
