used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
(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 “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading Sir Charles commented.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading Sir Charles commented.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
dearly loved
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “You usually do, don’t you?”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
an established custom
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
invariableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbəl/
not liable to or capable of change
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
a polite name for any woman
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
Ransome's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
express in words
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
ludicrous, foolish
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Charles commented.
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
todaynounUS /təˈdeɪ/
the present time or age
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
under normal conditions
From this reading “You usually do, don’t you?”
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
the words that are spoken
From this reading “Why should I waste words over so invariable a habit, my dear?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You usually do, don’t you?”
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Charlie,” Lady Snow said to her husband, almost a month later at dinner, “I made a new acquaintance today at Mrs. Ransome’s, and—I don’t know what you’ll say—I asked him to call.”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I certainly like to know people—what else is there for me to do with you shut up all day over your silly papers?”
