used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
how long something has existed
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
cause to be bored
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Mrs. Skinner's was certainly unlovely.
chastenedverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsənd/
past form of “chasten” — censure severely
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
eventidenoun
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
at any time
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
friendlessadjective
excluded from a society
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
a form of address for a man
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Skinner's was certainly unlovely.
not any; not one
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
pinchedadjectiveUS /pɪntʃt/
sounding as if the nose were pinched
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
pitilessadjectiveUS /ˈpɪtiləs/
without mercy or pity
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiːənt/
radiating or as if radiating light
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
relationshipnounUS /riˈleɪʃənʃɪp/
a relation between people; (“relationship” is often used where “relation” would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of “relationship” is for human relations or states of relatedness)
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
SkinnernounUS /ˈskɪnər/
United States actor (1858-1942)
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
Skinner'snounUS /ˈskɪnərz/
possessive form of “skinner” — United States actor (1858-1942)
From this reading Mrs. Skinner's was certainly unlovely.
SKINNERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
refrain from harming
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No one could mistake that they bore this relationship.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
not known
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
unlovelyadjective
without beauty or charm
From this reading Mrs. Skinner's was certainly unlovely.
precisely as stated
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _A VISIT TO THE SKINNERS._ Mr. Skinner was very like his mother.
in or at the place that
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Some old age is lovely--radiant with the chastened light of eventide.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Tall and spare, with sharp pinched features, and thin pitiless lips, from which very few kindly words had ever fallen, and where a smile was almost unknown--she was an almost friendless woman.
