used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
(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 They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
amiableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmiəbəl/
disposed to please
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
biggeradjectiveUS /ˈbɪɡər/
large or big relative to something else
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
Brenda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
darkeradjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkər/
comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
dearly loved
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
a feeling of thoughtful sadness
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
Minna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
olderadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldər/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
PiratenounUS /ˈpaɪrət/
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading They were not at all like Minna and Brenda in the “Pirate,” which used to be a contrast dear to the imagination.
feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
reservedadjectiveUS /rɪˈzɜːrvd/
set aside for the use of a particular person or party
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
StellanounUS /ˈstelə/
United States minimalist painter (born in 1936)
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
required or under orders
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
talleradjectiveUS /ˈtɔːlər/
comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Katherine was a little taller, a little bigger, a little darker, than Stella.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were not exactly of that conventional type which used to be common whenever two sisters had to be described--the one dark and the other fair, the one sunny and amiable, the other reserved and proud; the one gay, the other melancholy, or at least very serious by nature.
a late time of life
From this reading She was three years older but was supposed to look ten.
but in spite of that
From this reading But yet there was a very distinct difference between them.
