Chapter IX · After the Opera

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

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

(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 He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

Having no one else present.

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries; extensively grown in United States; roots and leaves yield atropine

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

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

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

having lost freshness or brilliance of color

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

past form of “capture” — succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

a female human offspring

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

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

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

opinion or judgment

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

something regarded with special favor or liking

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

make full, also in a metaphorical sense

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

set up or found

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

a young female

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

in a willing manner

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

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

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

having been paved

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

come together

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

not any; not one

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

causing disapproval or protest

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

consisting of fine particles

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

on the contrary

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

gallery where works of art can be displayed

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

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

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading He wanted a real girl, not a made-up one, with powdered face, bleached hair, belladonna eyes, and all the obnoxious habits so fast stealing into the best society.

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

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

(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 This he knew perfectly well, but, he said, the daughters didn’t fill the bill.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The ladies slept late the next morning, and Rex breakfasted alone and then went to the salon to meet his aunt, as he had promised to do the night before.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

during the time that

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

a specific feeling of desire

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.

showing curiosity

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was rather tiresome waiting, and he found himself wishing Bertha would come in, and wondering where she was.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading As a young man of position and wealth and unexceptionable habits, he was a general favorite with the ladies, and many a mother would gladly have captured him for her daughter, while the daughter would not have said no if asked to be his wife.