used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
absurditynounUS /əbˈsɜːrdəti/
a message whose content is at variance with reason
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
aimverbUS /eɪm/
point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
eagerly desirous
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/
to gain with effort
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
dearly loved
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
captiousadjective
tending to find and call attention to faults
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
Cicily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
elaborationnounUS /ɪˌlæbərˈeɪʃən/
addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
divisible by two
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
finicaladjective
exacting especially about details
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
HamiltonnounUS /ˈhæməltən/
Irish mathematician (1806-1865)
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was so with the young wife to-night.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
immediately past
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
lovelinessnoun
the quality of being good looking and attractive
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
a female domestic
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
many times at short intervals
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
by chance
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
pleasuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so with the young wife to-night.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so with the young wife to-night.
unbecomingadjectiveUS /ˌʌnbɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
at the time that
From this reading Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one beloved.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She was finical to the point of absurdity even, which is often the fault of beauty, and perhaps a fault not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was filled with anxious longing to display her beauty in its full measure for the pleasuring of the man to whom she had given her whole heart.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading It was so with the young wife to-night.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Cicily Hamilton was inclined to be captious with her maid as she dressed that evening.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was so with the young wife to-night.
