used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
CourteousadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrtiəs/
exhibiting courtesy and politeness
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
dearly loved
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
diminishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
impaired by diminution
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
evanescentadjectiveUS /ˌevəˈnesənt/
tending to vanish like vapor
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
explosiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsploʊsɪv/
serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
fire-crackers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
friendshipsnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪps/
plural of “friendship” — the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
hourlyadjectiveUS /ˈaʊrli/
occurring every hour or payable by the hour
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
impetuositynoun
rash impulsiveness
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
intimacies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
MARION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARION SANFORD.
mushroomnounUS /ˈmʌʃruːm/
common name for an edible agaric (contrasting with the inedible toadstool)
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
not any; not one
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
Reichard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
SANFORD
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARION SANFORD.
satirenounUS /ˈsætaɪər/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
school-girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
self-possessedadjective
in full control of your faculties
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
shrankverbUS /ʃræŋk/
inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
estrangement from god
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
thereofadverbUS /ˌðeˈrʌv/
of or concerning this or that
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
unpardonableadjective
not admitting of pardon
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
unpopularadjectiveUS /ˌʌnˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with disfavor or lacking general approval
From this reading As a school-girl Marion Sanford started by being unpopular.
unsympatheticadjectiveUS /ənˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
not sympathetic or disposed toward
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
precisely as stated
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
well-bredadjective
of good upbringing
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
which person or people
From this reading On first acquaintance there were very few girls in Madame Reichard's excellent establishment who did not decide that she was cold and unsympathetic.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading The volumes of satire that have been written on the subject have exhausted the field and rendered new ideas out of the question, but they have in no wise diminished the impetuosity with which such friendships are daily, hourly entered into, and they never will.
a late time of life
From this reading Courteous, well-bred, self-possessed, she was to a fault, but--unpardonable sin in school-girl eyes--she shrank from those dear and delicious intimacies, those mushroom friendships of our tender years, that are as explosive as fire-crackers and as evanescent as the smoke thereof.
