used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
(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 She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
any thing at all
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
bewilderingverbUS /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bewilder” — be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
compareverbUS /kəmˈper/
examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
DresdennounUS /ˈdrezdɪn/
a city in southeastern Germany on the Elbe River; it was almost totally destroyed by British air raids in 1945
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
extraordinarilyadverbUS /ekˌstrɔːrdəˈnerəli/
extremely
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
Fane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
fictionsnounUS /ˈfɪkʃənz/
plural of “fiction” — a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
fishedverbUS /fɪʃt/
past form of “fish” — seek indirectly
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
fishesnounUS /ˈfɪʃəz/
plural of “fish” — any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
FlorencenounUS /ˈflɔːrəns/
a city in central Italy on the Arno; provincial capital of Tuscany; center of the Italian Renaissance from 14th to 16th centuries
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
gagnepain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
the act of giving
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
Greville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
impressionsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃənz/
plural of “impression” — a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
social deportment
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
muddledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdəld/
confused and vague; used especially of thinking
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
and nothing more
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
an amount of time
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
petticoatsnounUS /ˈpetikoʊts/
plural of “petticoat” — undergarment worn under a skirt
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
plumagenounUS /ˈpluːmədʒ/
the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
propertiesnounUS /ˈprɑːpərtiz/
plural of “property” — something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
be shown or be found to be
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
puppetsnounUS /ˈpʌpəts/
plural of “puppet” — a small figure of a person operated from above with strings by a puppeteer
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
queerest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
speciesnounUS /ˈspiːʃiz/
(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
spoilingnounUS /ˈspɔɪlɪŋ/
the process of becoming spoiled
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
tarnishedverbUS /ˈtɑːrnɪʃt/
past form of “tarnish” — make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
From this reading She carried about her box of properties and fished out promptly the familiar, tarnished old puppets.
tenornounUS /ˈtenər/
the adult male singing voice above baritone
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
virtuousadjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːəs/
morally excellent
From this reading The queerest pictures come back to me of this period of the good lady’s life and of the extraordinarily virtuous, muddled, bewildering tenor of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was giving him experience, she was giving him impressions, she was putting a _gagnepain_ into his hand.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
at the time that
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
whimsicaladjectiveUS /ˈwɪmzɪkəl/
determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
From this reading She drove her whimsical pen at Dresden and at Florence, and produced in all places and at all times the same romantic and ridiculous fictions.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was another name for spoiling him with the best conscience in the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had an idea that she was seeing foreign manners as well as her petticoats would allow; but, in reality she was not seeing anything, least of all fortunately how much she was laughed at.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading She believed in them when others couldn’t, and as they were like nothing that was to be seen under the sun it was impossible to prove by comparison that they were wrong.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You can’t compare birds and fishes; you could only feel that, as Greville Fane’s characters had the fine plumage of the former species, human beings must be of the latter.
