used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BARBARIAN DINNER.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
(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 Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
BARBARIANnounUS /bɑːrˈberiən/
a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading A BARBARIAN DINNER.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
complimentverbUS /ˈkɑːmpləment/
say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A BARBARIAN DINNER.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
an established custom
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
KotonounUS /ˈkoʊtoʊ/
Japanese stringed instrument that resembles a zither; has a rectangular wooden sounding board and usually 13 silk strings that are plucked with the fingers
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
likingnounUS /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
Nume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
unusedadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːzd/
not yet used or soiled
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Koto had never eaten an American dinner before, though Nume had grown quite used to it.
precisely as stated
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Following the national custom, she ate all placed before her by her hostess, and Mrs. Davis, knowing of this little habit of hers, which was more an act of compliment to her hostess than of liking for the food, was always very careful not to serve her too much.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The girls stayed to dinner with Mrs. Davis.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She quite forgot that Koto would be altogether unused to the food.
