used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
having companions or an escort
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
anew
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
AnthonynounUS /ˈænθəni/
Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
objectionnounUS /əbˈdʒekʃən/
the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
in the near future
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/
past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
tiresomelyadverb
in a tedious manner
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading For they had been invited to a dinner party and dance, but as Anthony had declared he would be too busy to attend, Betty had declined without any objection at the time.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
except if; if not
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had made up her mind never to go out into society unless accompanied by her husband.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DINNER was tiresomely dull!
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Several times during the meal Betty almost wished that she had accepted an invitation for the evening without him.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Again Anthony did not return, but telephoned that he would be in as soon afterwards as possible.
