used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
amputatedverbUS /ˈæmpjəteɪtɪd/
past form of “amputate” — remove surgically
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
depressingly dark
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
gooseberry-bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
Greys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
immediately past
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
engage in
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
marriage-hymn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
absolutely essential
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
not any; not one
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
premisesnounUS /ˈpreməsəz/
land and the buildings on it
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
preparatoryadjectiveUS /prɪˈperətɔːri/
preceding and preparing for something
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
determined
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
move upward
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
satinnounUS /ˈsætən/
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
school-children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
slippersnounUS /ˈslɪpərz/
plural of “slipper” — low footwear that can be slipped on and off easily; usually worn indoors
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
Tempests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
unavoidableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbəl/
impossible to avoid or evade
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
wedding-morning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
a Caucasian
From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
