used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
akinadjectiveUS /əˈkɪn/
similar in quality or character
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
for the reason that
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
doubtedverbUS /ˈdaʊtɪd/
past form of “doubt” — consider unlikely or have doubts about
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
heritagenounUS /ˈherətədʒ/
practices that are handed down from the past by tradition
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
a female domestic
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
a particular point in time
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
not any; not one
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They very often have this feeling from the young.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
Paul'snounUS /pɔːlz/
possessive form of “paul” — United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
on the contrary
From this reading Old maids have from most people a feeling rather akin to pity--a hard heritage.
cut with a saw
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
express a supposition
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They very often have this feeling from the young.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading They very often have this feeling from the young.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading My cousin Fanny was an old maid; indeed, to follow St. Paul’s turn of phrase, she was an old maid of the old maids.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
precisely as stated
From this reading They very often have this feeling from the young.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Christmas, however, always brings up to me my cousin Fanny; I suppose because she always was so foolish about Christmas.
which person or people
From this reading No one who saw her a moment could have doubted it.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading They very often have this feeling from the young.
