Chapter II

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

(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 Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

move towards

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

desiring or striving for recognition or advancement

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

a soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

self-consciously timid

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

reproduction of some unicellular organisms (such as yeasts) by growth and specialization followed by the separation by constriction of a part of the parent

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

plural of “client” — a person who seeks the advice of a lawyer

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

-ing form of “correct” — make right or correct

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

a female human offspring

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

having been demonstrated or verified beyond doubt

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

possessive form of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

conceived of or imagined or hoped for

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

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 When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

divisible by two

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

in a physically fierce manner

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

destroyed or killed

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

in a gradual manner

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

easily ignited

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

plural of “lace” — a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

past form of “launder” — cleanse with a cleaning agent, such as soap, and water

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

the literary culture

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

plural of “maiden” — an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

engage in

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

used to form the superlative

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

a brief written record

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

the members of a business venture created by contract

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

established beyond doubt

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

confidently optimistic and cheerful

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

having the sense of smell

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

of or relating to a secretary or to a secretary's work

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

do one's shopping

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

writing done with a typewriter

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But the first six months, indeed the first three months, had demonstrated to them and to Dorfield that such a shop was much needed in the town.

having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

at the time that

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

which person or people

From this reading Josie was the blanchisseuse au fin who laundered the fine laces and linen brought to the shop by their wealthy clients.

belonging to which person

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree

From this reading AT THE HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY SHOP The Higgledy Piggledy Shop had proved even more successful than its owners had dreamed possible even in their most wildly sanguine moments.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)

From this reading When Josie O’Gorman, the detective’s daughter--herself a budding detective--had gone into partnership with Elizabeth Wright and they had opened the Higgledy Piggledy Shop, it had been with the idea of building up a business gradually.

the act of creating written works

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.

plural of “youth” — a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading Elizabeth held up the secretarial end, doing all of the typing, correcting manuscript for would-be authors, writing club papers for aspiring females, and, occasionally, even love letters for bashful youths or maidens whose hearts were bigger than their heads or whose love burned too fiercely to make it safe for them to approach too closely to such inflammable material as scented note paper.