used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
(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 As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Births and Christenings.
announcementnounUS /əˈnaʊnsmənt/
a formal public statement
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
BirthsnounUS /bɜːrθs/
plural of “birth” — the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading Births and Christenings.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
a game played with playing cards
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
Christenings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Births and Christenings.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/
plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
engage in
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
something you have to do
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
returnsnounUS /rɪˈtɜːrnz/
plural of “return” — document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
cause to go somewhere
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
in the near future
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
visitsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪts/
plural of “visit” — the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time
From this reading Her lady friends then make personal visits, but gentlemen do not call upon the mother on these occasions.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As soon as she is strong enough to permit, the mother returns her own card to all from whom she received cards and inquiries, with "thanks for kind inquiries."
hope for; have a wish
From this reading If they wish, they may pay their visits to the father, and inquire after the health of the mother and child.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Upon the announcement of the birth of a child, the lady friends of the mother send her their cards, with inquiries after her health.
