used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
anew
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Yes; but why do you ask?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
blanketsnounUS /ˈblæŋkəts/
plural of “blanket” — bedding that keeps a person warm in bed
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Yes; but why do you ask?"
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
countersnounUS /ˈkaʊntərz/
plural of “counter” — table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Yes; but why do you ask?"
emptiedverbUS /ˈemptid/
inflected form of “empty” — make void or empty of contents
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
at any time
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
and nothing more
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
a polite name for any woman
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
a woman of refinement
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
obligingadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
past form of “thank” — express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In a busy department store, a lady asked to see blankets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
which person or people
From this reading "Was papa the first man who ever proposed to you, mama?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Yes; but why do you ask?"
in the company of; together with
From this reading After the clerk had emptied the shelves and piled the counters with blankets of every description and color, the lady thanked him and said: "I was just looking for a friend."
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes; but why do you ask?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, madam," said the obliging clerk, "if you think your friend is among these blankets, I'll look again."
