used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading “MY land alive!”
(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 You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
constitutedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːtəd/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
travel across or pass over
From this reading THE CROSS OF HELPLESSNESS.
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/
a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
discomfiturenoun
anxious embarrassment
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
Erskine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
HELPLESSNESSnounUS /ˈhelpləsnəs/
powerlessness revealed by an inability to act
From this reading THE CROSS OF HELPLESSNESS.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
inappropriateadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈproʊpriɪt/
not suitable for a particular occasion etc
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading “MY land alive!”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “MY land alive!”
information about recent and important events
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
something you have to do
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CROSS OF HELPLESSNESS.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
ridiculouslyadverbUS /rəˈdɪkjələsli/
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
stepdaughter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CROSS OF HELPLESSNESS.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
the act of using
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
at the time that
From this reading That was what Mrs. Erskine said, when Ruth told her the news.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
wincedverbUS /wɪnst/
past form of “wince” — draw back, as with fear or pain
From this reading She winced under it now, it seemed so ridiculously inappropriate to the disaster that had come into their midst.
the words that are spoken
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You may have observed that those three words constituted a favorite expression of hers—one which she was apt to use on all occasions, greatly to her stepdaughter’s discomfiture.
