used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading MAKING ACQUAINTANCE.
anew
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
any thing at all
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
ChapmannounUS /ˈtʃæpmən/
United States pioneer who planted apple trees as he traveled (1774-1845)
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
displeaseverbUS /dɪˈspliːz/
give displeasure to
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
put on clothes
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
a young female
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading MAKING ACQUAINTANCE.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
QuakernounUS /ˈkweɪkər/
a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
RubynounUS /ˈruːbi/
a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
an educational institution
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
sweetestadjectiveUS /ˈswiːtəst/
superlative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Almost before the girl had closed the parlor door, and before Ruby had had time to do much more than glance about the room, the door opened again, and the dearest and sweetest of Quaker ladies came in.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
precisely as stated
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading They did not have to wait long for Miss Chapman, the principal of the school, to come in.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
a Caucasian
From this reading She had on a plain gray dress, and a white handkerchief was folded about her neck.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading She wore a little white cap over her silver hair, and her eyes were so kind that Ruby was quite sure that she should love her very, very much, and should never do anything to displease her if she could help it.
