used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
AbelnounUS /ˈeɪbəl/
Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
beadsnounUS /biːdz/
several beads threaded together on a string
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
belaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
beribboned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
centnounUS /sent/
a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
cheatingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃiːtɪŋ/
not faithful to a spouse or lover
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
crinkledadjective
uneven by virtue of having wrinkles or waves
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
crêpe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
Deerwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
put on clothes
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
ElmnounUS /elm/
any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
divisible by two
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
girdlenounUS /ˈɡɜːrdəl/
an encircling or ringlike structure
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
month'snounUS /mʌnθs/
possessive form of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
nightgownnoun
lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women
From this reading She even bought a foolish little beribboned and belaced nightgown.
not any; not one
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
with little or no delay
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
reekingadjectiveUS /ˈriːkɪŋ/
wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
cut with a saw
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
solitairenounUS /ˌsɑːləˈter/
a gem (usually a diamond) in a setting by itself
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She got a pretty green crêpe dress with a girdle of crimson beads, at a bargain sale, a pair of silk stockings, to match, and a little crinkled green hat with a crimson rose in it.
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/
leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
two times
From this reading She passed the house on Elm Street twice—Valancy never even thought about it as “home”—but saw no one.
Valancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
wagesnounUS /ˈweɪdʒəz/
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No doubt her mother was sitting in the room this lovely June evening playing solitaire—and cheating.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
at the time that
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
whiskeynounUS /ˈwɪski/
a liquor made from fermented mash of grain
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Abel Gay paid Valancy her first month’s wages—which he did promptly, in bills reeking with the odour of tobacco and whiskey—Valancy went into Deerwood and spent every cent of it.
