used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
adjustingverbUS /əˈdʒʌstɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjust” — alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
carriagesnounUS /ˈkærɪdʒɪz/
plural of “carriage” — a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
deem to be
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
crushverbUS /krʌʃ/
come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
a female human offspring
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
draperynounUS /ˈdreɪpəri/
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
put on clothes
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
Forty-secondadjective
the ordinal number of forty-two in counting order
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
and nothing more
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
motorsnounUS /ˈmoʊtərz/
plural of “motor” — machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/
characterized by or capable of producing music
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
not any; not one
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
held or filled or in use
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
on one occasion
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
and nothing more
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
purchasedverbUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
past form of “purchase” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
in the near future
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/
travel slowly
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
in or at that place or location
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading At the Forty-second street station she met them in a taxi, and certainly in traveling to their hotel through the usual exciting crush of motors, carriages and people there was no opportunity for serious questioning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were to go to a musical as soon as dinner was over and there was just sufficient time to dress.
WhartonnounUS /ˈwɔːrtən/
United States novelist (1862-1937)
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
Wharton'snounUS /ˈwɔːrtənz/
possessive form of “wharton” — United States novelist (1862-1937)
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Once while Mrs. Wharton was adjusting the drapery on a new frock which she had purchased for her daughter only that afternoon, Mollie turned toward her mother with her blue eyes suddenly serious.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
in the company of; together with
From this reading So Betty went almost at once to her own room adjoining Mrs. Wharton’s, while Mollie occupied the room with her mother.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Mrs. Wharton did not seem to consider that an explanation was imperative immediately upon the arrival of the two girls in New York.
