used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
(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 There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She had never thought about there being any presents.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She had never thought about there being any presents.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
childlessadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldləs/
without offspring
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
the act of departing
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
doubtfullyadverb
in a doubtful manner
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
put on clothes
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
Elsworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
feastingnounUS /ˈfiːstɪŋ/
eating an elaborate meal (often accompanied by entertainment)
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
a young female
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
the act of giving
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
and nothing more
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
LawrencenounUS /ˈlɔːrəns/
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Esther had always dreamed of her wedding; she had looked forward to it just as definitely before she met Joe Elsworth as after her engagement to him.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had never thought about there being any presents.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading She had never thought about there being any presents.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had never thought about there being any presents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
a garment that covers the head and face
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading The girl watched her departure doubtfully, but the possibility of not having a large wedding kept her from giving a full expression to her feelings.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Mrs. Lawrence, a rich, childless old lady, lived next door, and about four o'clock she went over there.
a Caucasian
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There would be flowers and guests and feasting, and she would be the centre of it all in a white dress and veil.
