used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
(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 She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading AUNT MARIA.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
bowingnounUS /ˈboʊɪŋ/
bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
chattingverbUS /ˈtʃætɪŋ/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
driedadjectiveUS /draɪd/
not still wet
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
embroiderynounUS /emˈbrɔɪdəri/
elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
Eva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
inquiringadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərɪŋ/
given to inquiry
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
conformity or harmony
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
lacesnounUS /ˈleɪsəz/
plural of “lace” — a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
social deportment
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon
From this reading AUNT MARIA.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
obligingadjectiveUS /əˈblaɪdʒɪŋ/
showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
held or filled or in use
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
people'snounUS /ˈpiːpəlz/
possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
plumedadjective
having or covered with or abounding in plumes
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
rustlingnounUS /ˈrʌslɪŋ/
the stealing of cattle
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
up to a particular time
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
time-honoredadjective
acceptable for a long time
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
precisely as stated
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
virtuesnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/
plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was all plumed and rustling in flowers and laces, and had on her calling manners.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
in or at the place that
From this reading Aunt Maria came into the parlor where Eva and Alice were chatting over their embroidery.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A glance showed that she had been occupied in that sensible and time-honored method of keeping up the social virtues, which is called making calls.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She had evidently been smiling and bowing and inquiring after people's health, and saying pretty and obliging things, till the very soul within her was quite dried up and exhausted.
