used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
admiredadjectiveUS /ədˈmaɪərd/
regarded with admiration
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
the two together, not just one
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
a young person of either sex
From this reading "You poor child!
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
plural of “direction” — a line leading to a place or point
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
elaborateadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæbrət/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
Patricia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "You poor child!
Quale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
with low volume
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/
travel slowly
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
a special situation
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She came in now, took both Patricia's hands in hers, and kissed her quietly.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
look attentively
From this reading She came in a taxi, having received elaborate directions from Chet, who remained at the hotel to watch for the return of the captain.
which person or people
From this reading It was Mrs. Quale who arrived on the scene first.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There was one comfortable thing about Mrs. Quale that Patricia had always particularly admired: she seemed to understand things and situations without any explanations.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You poor child!
