used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
in the past
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
celebrateverbUS /ˈseləbreɪt/
behave as expected during of holidays or rites
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
COMPLICATESverbUS /ˈkɑːmplɪkeɪts/
third-person singular of “complicate” — make more complicated
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
CONSIDINE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
greatly pleased
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
a social unit living together
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
generationsnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “generation” — all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
informsverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmz/
third-person singular of “inform” — impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
jewel-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
immediately past
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
necklacenounUS /ˈnekləs/
jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
many times at short intervals
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
pearlsnounUS /pɜːrlz/
plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
replacedverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪst/
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
seventeenadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːn/
being one more than sixteen
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
express in words
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
not known
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
be dressed in
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
wearsnounUS /werz/
plural of “wear” — impairment resulting from long use
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
at the time that
From this reading She informs me that she replaced the necklace in her jewel-case when she retired that evening.
whimnounUS /wɪm/
a sudden desire
From this reading And it has been her fancy, call it whim if you please to, to wear this necklace quite often.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading The last occasion she wore it was the evening before last—it was my birthday and it delighted her to celebrate the affair.
a late time of life
From this reading My wife wears them in the form of a necklace that she had made some seventeen years ago.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading LADY CONSIDINE COMPLICATES MATTERS “I ought to tell you gentlemen, or at least those of you to whom the Considine pearls are unknown, that they have been in my family for several generations and are of great value.
