used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
a young person of either sex
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
commendableadjectiveUS /kəˈmendəbəl/
worthy of high praise
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
without stop or interruption
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
CurtisnounUS /ˈkɜːrtəs/
English botanical writer and publisher (1746-1799)
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
dearly loved
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
and nothing more
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
knittingnounUS /ˈnɪtɪŋ/
needlework created by interlacing yarn in a series of connected loops using straight eyeless needles or by machine
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
MantelnounUS /ˈmæntəl/
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
not any; not one
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
with little or no delay
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
shockedadjectiveUS /ʃɑːkt/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The shocked silence continued for no more than a minute.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Really I haven’t the time just now to help you start any knitting.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But every member of the Ladies’ Aid Society knew what Mercy Curtis’ question meant.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Mrs. Mantel was a quick-witted woman, if she was nothing else commendable.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “My dear child,” said the woman in black, smiling her set smile but rising promptly, “I shall have to do that for you another day.
