used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
(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 They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
cultivatedadjectiveUS /ˈkʌltəveɪtɪd/
(of land or fields) prepared for raising crops by plowing or fertilizing
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
a female human offspring
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
Dorfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
Elizabeth'snounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθs/
possessive form of “elizabeth” — daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
establishingverbUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “establish” — set up or found
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
a social unit living together
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
Louise's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
McGraw's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
modenounUS /moʊd/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
and nothing more
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
peculiaritiesnounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerətiz/
plural of “peculiarity” — an odd or unusual characteristic
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
a human being
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
policemannounUS /pəˈliːsmən/
a member of a police force
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
racernounUS /ˈreɪsər/
someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
reconcilingadjectiveUS /ˈrekənsaɪlɪŋ/
tending to reconcile or accommodate; bringing into harmony
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
do one's shopping
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
speedingnounUS /ˈspiːdɪŋ/
changing location rapidly
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
stylishadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/
having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
a special situation
From this reading Another thing that was reconciling the Wright family somewhat to Elizabeth’s erratic mode of life was that she had begun to put money in the bank.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
in the direction of
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
unstylishadjective
lacking in style or elegance
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Her only value in their eyes was that she was a friend of Mary Louise’s.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
at the time that
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
which person or people
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading They had grown accustomed if not resigned to the peculiarities of this member of the family who insisted upon working all day in a funny shop with an unstylish little person, the daughter of a policeman so they understood.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading As has been remarked before, that fact went a long way in the opinion of Dorfield towards establishing a person as worthy of being cultivated.
WrightnounUS /raɪt/
United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)
From this reading A DINNER PARTY There was some excitement in the Wright family when Elizabeth came speeding home in Billy McGraw’s stylish little racer.
