used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
auburnadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbərn/
(of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
curlsnounUS /kɜːrlz/
plural of “curl” — a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/
English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
Curtis's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
dressingnounUS /ˈdresɪŋ/
savory dressings for salads; basically of two kinds: either the thin French or vinaigrette type or the creamy mayonnaise type
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
divisible by two
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
gownsnounUS /ɡaʊnz/
plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
houseboatnounUS /ˈhaʊsboʊt/
a barge that is designed and equipped for use as a dwelling
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
Lillian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
linennounUS /ˈlɪnən/
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
loyallyadverbUS /ˈlɔɪəli/
with loyalty; in a loyal manner
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
navynounUS /ˈneɪvi/
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "Almost any mother is pretty nice, even if she isn't rich or beautiful," answered Phil loyally.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
ribbonnounUS /ˈrɪbən/
any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
possessing material wealth
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/
the work of a sailor
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
sergenounUS /sɜːrdʒ/
a twilled woolen fabric
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
bound or secured closely
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
male cat
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Eleanor, Lillian and Miss Jones, clad in white linen gowns, were ready and waiting on the houseboat deck for the arrival of the sailing party.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
a Caucasian
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She and Phil were dressing for Tom Curtis's sailing party, to which he had invited them the day before and which was to start within the next hour.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
yachtingnounUS /ˈjɑːtɪŋ/
water travel for pleasure
From this reading She was wearing a yachting suit of navy blue while Madge was dressed in white serge.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES "Don't you think it would be perfectly lovely to have a mother as rich and beautiful as Mrs. Curtis?" asked Madge, as she tied a black velvet ribbon about her auburn curls and turned her head to see the effect.
