used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
any thing at all
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had filled the glasses as full as possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
deliciousadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪʃəs/
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
drawlnounUS /drɔːl/
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
take in solid food
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
the act of consuming food
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading She had filled the glasses as full as possible.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading She had filled the glasses as full as possible.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading She had filled the glasses as full as possible.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
JoycenounUS /dʒɔɪs/
influential Irish writer noted for his many innovations (such as stream of consciousness writing) (1882-1941)
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
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 It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
longedverbUS /lɔːŋd/
past form of “long” — desire strongly or persistently
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
a female domestic
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
not one, and not any
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading She had filled the glasses as full as possible.
relishnounUS /ˈrelɪʃ/
vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
express in words
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
tastedverbUS /ˈteɪstɪd/
past form of “taste” — have flavor; taste of something
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
thirstyadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrsti/
needing moisture
From this reading She was hot and thirsty and she longed for some of it now, but there was none left.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
at the time that
From this reading It was delicious, Joyce knew, for she had tasted it when it was finished.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading She heard one of the guests say how delicious it was, and the hostess reply in her languid drawl that it wasn’t what it ought to be, that she had a new maid, and she was sure she didn’t know whether they were to have anything fit to eat or not.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The guests were eating away at the fruit cup with a relish.
