used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
awakenedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪkənd/
aroused or activated
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
Blanchard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT.
colderadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldər/
comparative of “cold” — 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 The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
easy-going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
ENTERTAINMENTnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading A CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT.
at any time
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
gayeradjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪər/
comparative of “gay” — bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
kind-heartedadjective
having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
Lizzie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
MasonnounUS /ˈmeɪsən/
American Revolutionary leader from Virginia whose objections led to the drafting of the Bill of Rights (1725-1792)
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
not one, and not any
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
do one's shopping
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
suppliedverbUS /səˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
temptingadjectiveUS /ˈtemptɪŋ/
highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Nora had not forgotten Lizzie Mason and her needs, though the jacket was supplied in an unexpected way.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Blanchard, easy-going as she was, was really kind-hearted when her sympathy was awakened.
which person or people
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The usual bustle of Christmas preparations had begun, and the shop windows were gayer and more tempting than ever to people who had any money to spend, as well as--alas!--to those who had none.
wintryadjectiveUS /ˈwɪntri/
characteristic of or occurring in winter
From this reading The weather was growing colder and more wintry, as Christmas drew near.
