used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
acceptableadjectiveUS /ækˈseptəbəl/
worthy of acceptance or satisfactory
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
matters of personal concern
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
bitter-sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
declare untrue; contradict
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
dingyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪndʒi/
thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
set up or found
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
harvestnounUS /ˈhɑːrvəst/
the yield from plants in a single growing season
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
an occurrence of something
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
become covered with mist
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
used to form the superlative
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
not one, and not any
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
ornamentsnounUS /ˈɔːrnəmənts/
plural of “ornament” — something used to beautify
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
outlinesnounUS /ˈaʊtlaɪnz/
plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
pasteboardnoun
stiff cardboard made by pasting together layers of paper
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
popcornnounUS /ˈpɑːpkɔːrn/
corn having small ears and kernels that burst when exposed to dry heat
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
proneadjectiveUS /proʊn/
having a tendency (to); often used in combination
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
Robson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
stingverbUS /stɪŋ/
cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
strandsnounUS /strændz/
plural of “strand” — a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
strungadjectiveUS /strʌŋ/
that is on a string
From this reading And a tree to Mrs. Robson meant none of the scant, indifferent affairs that most of the neighbors found acceptable strung with a few strands of dingy popcorn and pasteboard ornaments.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading For instance, they had never been too poor to deny themselves the luxury of a tree.
unalloyedadjectiveUS /əˈnælɔɪd/
free from admixture
From this reading Not that she could look back on any holiday season with unalloyed happiness, but time had drawn the sting from the misfortune of the old days.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Christmas Day came and went with a host of bitter-sweet memories for Claire Robson.
a late time of life
From this reading Through the mist of the years outlines softened, and she was more prone to measure the results by the slight harvest that their efforts had brought.
