used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She asked me to come and see her, and I went.
for the reason that
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
bushelsnounUS /ˈbʊʃəlz/
plural of “bushel” — a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
an occurrence of something
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She asked me to come and see her, and I went.
contemporariesnounUS /kənˈtempəreriz/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
contributedverbUS /kənˈtrɪbjuːtɪd/
past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
a pair who associate with one another
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
criticismnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪsɪzəm/
disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
debtnounUS /det/
the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
diversionnounUS /daɪˈvɜːrʒən/
an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
death of a person
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
heapedverbUS /hiːpt/
past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She asked me to come and see her, and I went.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
incompleteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/
not complete or total; not completed
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She asked me to come and see her, and I went.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
obligationnounUS /ˌɑːbləˈɡeɪʃən/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
paysnounUS /peɪz/
plural of “pay” — something that remunerates
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She asked me to come and see her, and I went.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
transactionnounUS /trænˈzækʃən/
the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities)
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was doubtless because the transaction, in her case, had remained incomplete; genius always pays for the gift, feels the debt, and she was placidly unconscious of obligation.
weeklynounUS /ˈwiːkli/
a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She went down to her grave without suspecting that though she had contributed volumes to the diversion of her contemporaries she had not contributed a sentence to the language.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading This had not prevented bushels of criticism from being heaped upon her head; she was worth a couple of columns any day to the weekly papers, in which it was shown that her pictures of life were dreadful but her style really charming.
produce a literary work
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading She could invent stories by the yard, but she couldn’t write a page of English.
