used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
give encouragement to
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
a young person of either sex
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
Christmas-eve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
set up or found
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
Grace'snounUS /ˈɡreɪsɪz/
possessive form of “grace” — (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
illnessnounUS /ˈɪlnəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
IonnounUS /ˈaɪən/
a particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
and nothing more
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
LulunounUS /ˈluːluː/
a very attractive or seductive looking woman
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
engage in
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
on one occasion
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
participate in games or sport
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading She had come with the news of Grace's illness, and he followed her at once to the bedside of the sick child.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
toiletnounUS /ˈtɔɪlət/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
TUSSERnoun
oriental moth that produces brownish silk
From this reading --TUSSER.
twenty-fourthadjective
coming next after the twenty-third in position
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
at the time that
From this reading The captain was just finishing his morning toilet when Lulu knocked at his dressing-room door.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The morning of the twenty-fourth found Grace almost too ill, with a heavy cold, to be out of bed; and it was quite evident that she would not be able to go to the Christmas-eve party at Ion, or the dinner on Christmas Day.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading "At Christmas play, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."
