used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
Ahemnoun
the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
arisenverbUS /ərˈɪzən/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
gotten under control
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
a social unit living together
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
death of a person
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "What do I say to it?
of great significance or value
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What do I say to it?
lawsuitsnounUS /ˈlɔːsuːts/
plural of “lawsuit” — a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
Leopold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
longestadverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡəst/
for the most time
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/
superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
used to form the superlative
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
post-scriptum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
precisely, exactly
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
express in words
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
triflesnounUS /ˈtraɪfəlz/
plural of “trifle” — a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading "What shall I say?--From the merest trifles some of the longest and most difficult lawsuits have arisen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
Verheyst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Ahem! you may be right; how is it possible that a Christian woman, with one foot in the grave, can be inspired with such bitter hatred of this family, and probably for what is the merest trifle."
woman'snounUS /ˈwʊmənz/
possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Well, that it is a real woman's letter; the most important point being contained in the post-scriptum."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now, what do you say to this?" asked Leopold, as Verheyst folded up the letter with a thoughtful face.
