used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
on or to one side
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
boardersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “boarder” — a tenant in someone's house
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
botheringverbUS /ˈbɑːðərɪŋ/
-ing form of “bother” — take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
day-girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
having made preparations
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
dressesnounUS /ˈdresəz/
plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
a feeling of excitement
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
evincedverbUS /ɪˈvɪnst/
past form of “evince” — give expression to
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
fussverbUS /fʌs/
worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
immediately past
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
engage in
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
and nothing more
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
MerlenounUS /mɜːrl/
common black European thrush
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
Merle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
MitchellnounUS /ˈmɪtʃəl/
English aeronautical engineer (1895-1937)
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
used to form the superlative
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
not any; not one
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
participate in games or sport
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
on the contrary
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
sniffedverbUS /snɪft/
past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
tableauxnounUS /təˈbloʊ/
plural of “tableau” — a group of people attractively arranged (as if in a painting)
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
tameverbUS /teɪm/
correct by punishment or discipline
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
except if; if not
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She suggested, indeed, that the day-girls might get up some tableaux, but as no one evinced any enthusiasm the matter dropped.
the act of using
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
precisely as stated
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miss Mitchell did not seem disposed to make any very great fuss about it, and merely set aside the last hour of the last afternoon for the play which the boarders had prepared.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "It really isn't worth our while bothering over them," agreed Merle.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Tableaux are rather tame unless you have most beautiful dresses," sniffed Muriel.
Yule-tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yule-tide The end of the term was, to use Merle's expression, 'a little thin.'
