used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
(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 Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
the two together, not just one
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
chieflyadverbUS /ˈtʃiːfli/
for the most part
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
put on clothes
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
expresslyadverbUS /ekˈspresli/
with specific intentions; for the express purpose
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
garmentnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənt/
an article of clothing
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
Magnhild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
not any; not one
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
being perceived or observed
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
outfitnounUS /ˈaʊtfɪt/
any cohesive unit such as a military company
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
priest'snounUS /priːsts/
possessive form of “priest” — a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
only a very short time before
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading It was too short both in the waist and in the skirt; but Magnhild scarcely noticed this.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
be dressed in
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Late in the autumn all three girls were confirmed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
which person or people
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was such a matter of course to them all that their thoughts were chiefly busied with what they should wear on the day of the ceremony.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
but in spite of that
From this reading Magnhild, who had never yet had a garment cut out and made expressly for herself, wondered whether an outfit would now be prepared for her.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading No. The younger girls were furnished with new silk dresses; an old black dress that had become too tight for the priest's wife was made over for Magnhild.
