used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
accomplishmentsnounUS /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənts/
plural of “accomplishment” — the action of accomplishing something
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
remove the dust from
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
elegances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
entertainingadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnɪŋ/
agreeably diverting
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
brought together in one place
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
possessive form of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
instructiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪv/
serving to instruct or enlighten or inform
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
lamentedadjectiveUS /ləˈmentɪd/
mourned or grieved for
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
Lindon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
engage in
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
marvelsnounUS /ˈmɑːrvəlz/
plural of “marvel” — something that causes feelings of wonder
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
midwinternounUS /ˈmɪˈdwɪntər/
the middle of winter
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
plebeiannounUS /pləˈbiːən/
one of the common people
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
polishnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃ/
the property of being smooth and shiny
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
proficiencynounUS /prəˈfɪʃənsi/
the quality of having great facility and competence
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
puddingsnounUS /ˈpʊdɪŋz/
plural of “pudding” — any of various soft thick unsweetened baked dishes
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
sewingnounUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
storm-cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
tastesnounUS /teɪsts/
plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN midwinter the shadow that hung over John gathered into storm-cloud.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
UnitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/
an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The girl's tastes, Miss Lindon lamented, were so plebeian!
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading She could perform whatever marvels of exquisite sewing Miss Lindon could imagine, but there her proficiency in the elegances came to an end.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would sooner make puddings than afternoon calls; she would sooner sweep and dust and polish than read instructive or entertaining literature.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
young-ladylike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lindon, in pathetic despair, had abandoned her notion of turning Unity into a young lady of young-ladylike accomplishments.
