used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
(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 Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading They were very sure it pleased them.
pleasesverbUS /ˈpliːzɪz/
third-person singular of “please” — give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were very sure it pleased them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were very sure it pleased them.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Somehow the ladies were growing gracious toward her, from having previously felt too humble, it may be.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were very sure it pleased them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was girlish in her manner, and not imposing in her figure.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were very sure it pleased them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would be a sweet mystery to talk about, they thought: but she had ceased to be quite the same mystery to them.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You are sure it pleases you?" she exclaimed.
