used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
in the past
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
(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 “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
communicationnounUS /kəˌmjuːnəˈkeɪʃən/
the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
greatly pleased
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
deprivationsnounUS /ˌdeprəˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “deprivation” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
apart from; not including
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
coins made of gold
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
illustratedverbUS /ˈɪləstreɪtəd/
past form of “illustrate” — clarify by giving an example of
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a single distinct event
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
and nothing more
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
a boy or man
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
the literary culture
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
not any; not one
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
patheticallyadverbUS /pəˈθetɪkəli/
in a manner arousing sympathy and compassion
From this reading The deprivations of the queen’s life are pathetically illustrated by an incident which occurred not long ago.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
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 These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
compacted by ironing
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
queen'snounUS /kwiːnz/
possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading An American lad sent her majesty an immense collection of the flowers of this country, pressed and mounted.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
thriftyadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪfti/
careful and diligent in the use of resources
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
trimmingsnounUS /ˈtrɪmɪŋz/
the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity)
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The queen was delighted with the collection and kept it for three months, turning over the leaves frequently with great delight.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
which person or people
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading These gold trimmings will be returned to him in time, as they are expensive, and the queen is kindly and thrifty; but for the queen’s presents they are imperative.
plural of “wish” — a specific feeling of desire
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Any one who wishes to send the queen a personal poem or a communication of any kind (except a personal letter, which the poor lady isn’t allowed to have at all) must have it printed in gold letters on one side of these silk sheets with a gold fringe, just so many inches wide and no wider, all about it.
