used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
afternoon'snounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
possessive form of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
(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 ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
Caryisfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
excusesnounUS /ɪksˈkjuːsɪz/
plural of “excuse” — a defense of some offensive behavior or some failure to keep a promise etc.
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
engage in
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
not any; not one
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
Ombra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
yielding a fair profit
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
prettiestadjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiəst/
superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
seclusionnounUS /sɪˈkluːʒən/
the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
express in words
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had a cold, and was half an invalid.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading ‘Let me see--no, I will not choose Ombra, for Ombra has need of all the air that is to be had; but Kate is strong--an afternoon’s seclusion will not make any difference to her.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had kept Kate with her while the others went out, after paying their call.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Lady Caryisfort had enveloped her choice of Kate in the prettiest excuses: ‘I wish one of you girls would give up the sunshine, and stay and keep me company,’ she had said.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading ‘Come and tell me all about yourself, Kate,’ said Lady Caryisfort, from her sofa.
