used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
how long something has existed
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
any person at all
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
BethnounUS /beθ/
the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
CaldwellnounUS /ˈkɔːldwel/
United States author remembered for novels about poverty and degeneration (1903-1987)
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
church-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
disheartenedadjectiveUS /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/
made less hopeful or enthusiastic
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
dissatisfiedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsætəsfaɪd/
in a state of sulky dissatisfaction
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
fervournoun
the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
a young female
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
hymnnounUS /hɪm/
a song of praise (to God or to a saint or to a nation)
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
ill-dressedadjective
not well dressed
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
lavenderadjectiveUS /ˈlævəndər/
of a pale purple color
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
over-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
an angry dispute
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
reappearedverbUS /ˌriːəˈpɪrd/
past form of “reappear” — appear again
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
remodelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
ridiculouslyadverbUS /rəˈdɪkjələsli/
so as to arouse or deserve laughter
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
rouseverbUS /raʊs/
become active
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
self-consciousadjectiveUS /ˌselfˈkɑːnʃəs/
aware of yourself as an individual or of your own being and actions and thoughts
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
SundaysnounUS /ˈsʌndeɪz/
plural of “sunday” — first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then suddenly, during the singing of a hymn, she ceased to be self-conscious.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
tested and proved useful or correct
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
uncomfortableadjectiveUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbəl/
conducive to or feeling mental discomfort
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
under normal conditions
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
VainlyadverbUS /ˈveɪnli/
to no avail
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
precisely as stated
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
Victoria'snounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriəz/
possessive form of “victoria” — queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On Sunday morning Beth went down to breakfast dressed in Aunt Victoria's light lavender silk, remodelled to suit her; and very becoming she had made it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading But Mrs. Caldwell called it an absurd costume for a girl of her age, and said she looked ridiculously over-dressed; so Beth went back to her room disheartened, and reappeared at church-time, with drooping mouth, in the old black frock she usually wore on Sundays.
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading Vainly she tried to rouse herself to any fervour of worship during the first part of the service.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She felt ill-dressed, uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and would have been glad to quarrel with anybody.
