used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
from appearances alone
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
BarbnounUS /bɑːrb/
an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
gotten under control
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
daughter-in-lawnounUS /ˈdɔːtərɪnlɔː/
the wife of your son
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
departmentsnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “department” — a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
domesticsnounUS /dəˈmestɪks/
plural of “domestic” — a servant who is paid to perform menial tasks around the household
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
one or the other of two
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
inasmuch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
incomprehensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋkɑːmprəˈhensɪbəl/
incapable of being explained or accounted for
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
inspiredadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈspaɪərd/
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
and nothing more
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
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 Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
LemonnounUS /ˈlemən/
yellow oval fruit with juicy acidic flesh
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
not any; not one
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
possessionsnounUS /pəˈzeʃənz/
plural of “possession” — the act of having and controlling property
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
prodigiousadjectiveUS /prəˈdɪdʒəs/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
ruffledadjectiveUS /ˈrʌfəld/
shaken into waves or undulations as by wind
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
successiveadjectiveUS /səkˈsesɪv/
in regular succession without gaps
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
carry out
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The true incomprehensible in Lady Barb was that she cared for neither side of the show.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was the same with regard to her acquaintance, which was immense, inasmuch as every one in the place had called on her.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her house apparently inspired her with no curiosity and no enthusiasm, though it had been thought magnificent enough to be described in successive columns of the native newspapers; and she never spoke of her furniture or her domestics, though she had a prodigious show of such possessions.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Mrs. Lemon was the least critical woman in the world, but it had occasionally ruffled her just a little that her daughter-in-law should receive every one in New York quite in the same automatic manner.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The world, to the elder lady’s view, contained two great departments, that of people and that of things; and she believed you must take an interest either in one or the other.
