Chapter XV

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the act of departing

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

not any; not one

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

a color varying from dark purplish brown to dark red

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

reflecting light

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

be dressed in

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

at the time that

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

a late time of life

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.