used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
absurdlyadverbUS /əbˈsɜːrdli/
in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
Ashton'snounUS /ˈæʃtənz/
possessive form of “ashton” — British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
broad-brimmedadjective
(of hats) having a broad brim
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
chucklingverbUS /ˈtʃʌklɪŋ/
-ing form of “chuckle” — laugh quietly or with restraint
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
deflectionnounUS /dɪˈflekʃən/
a twist or aberration; especially a perverse or abnormal way of judging or acting
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
downbent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
put on clothes
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
Knowles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
lacedadjectiveUS /leɪst/
closed with a lace
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
LADY'SnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
protectedadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪd/
kept safe or defended from danger or injury or loss
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
serviceableadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrvəsəbəl/
ready for service or able to give long service
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/
a garment worn on the upper half of the body
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Mrs. Blake had changed to an easy and serviceable dress of plain, strong material.
surveyor'snounUS /sərˈveɪərz/
possessive form of “surveyor” — an engineer who determines the boundaries and elevations of land or structures
From this reading Her husband had shifted to an equally serviceable costume--flannel shirt, broad-brimmed felt hat, and surveyor's boots.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE OTHER LADY'S HUSBAND Miss Knowles did not seem to observe Ashton's deflection.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The skirt, cut to walking length, showed that her feet and ankles were protected by a pair of absurdly small laced boots.
worshipfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
wrigglingadjective
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading She remained worshipfully downbent over the wriggling, chuckling baby until its parents reappeared.
