used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
highly skilled
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
cause to be bored
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
brightenedverbUS /ˈbraɪtənd/
past form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
BrighteningverbUS /ˈbraɪtənɪŋ/
-ing form of “brighten” — make more cheerful through the use of color
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
without stop or interruption
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
giddyadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪdi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
a young female
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
H'snounUS /ˈeɪtʃɪz/
possessive form of “h” — a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
cause to move by striking
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
full of life and energy
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
luxurynounUS /ˈlʌɡʒəri/
something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
paysnounUS /peɪz/
plural of “pay” — something that remunerates
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
a human being
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
precisely, exactly
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was an expensive luxury, but it paid to have me, as it pays to get a good doctor or the best quality in boots.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading After several successful operations and some lurid adventures, I was doing so well on the whole that I felt the need of a secretary.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE GIRL WITH THE LETTER Brightening continued to be fun.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading As time went on I brightened charming people, queer people, people with their hearts in the right place and their "H's" in the wrong one.
but in spite of that
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading How to hit on the right person was the problem, for I wanted her young, but not too young; pretty, but not too pretty; lively, not giddy; sensible, yet never a bore; a lady, but not a howling swell; accomplished, but not overwhelming; in fact, perfection.
