used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mrs. Nuddle was as opposite in every way as could be.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mrs. Nuddle was as opposite in every way as could be.
obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
cartoonsnounUS /kɑːrˈtuːnz/
plural of “cartoon” — a humorous or satirical drawing published in a newspaper or magazine
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
cranberriesnounUS /ˈkrænberiz/
plural of “cranberry” — any of numerous shrubs of genus Vaccinium bearing cranberries
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
the specified day of the month
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
datesnounUS /deɪts/
plural of “date” — the specified day of the month
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
eelsnounUS /iːlz/
plural of “eel” — the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Mrs. Nuddle was as opposite in every way as could be.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
gartersnounUS /ˈɡɑːrtərz/
plural of “garter” — a band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve)
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Nuddle.
hieroglyphsnounUS /ˌhaɪroʊˈɡlɪfs/
plural of “hieroglyph” — writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/
lacking in physical beauty or proportion
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
improbableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɑːbəbəl/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
mottlings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Nuddle.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Nuddle.
not any; not one
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
Nuddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her name was Mrs. Nuddle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Mrs. Nuddle was as opposite in every way as could be.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
sketchedverbUS /sketʃt/
past form of “sketch” — make a sketch of
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
sniffedverbUS /snɪft/
past form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
sniffingverbUS /ˈsnɪfɪŋ/
-ing form of “sniff” — perceive by inhaling through the nose
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
spinesnounUS /spaɪnz/
plural of “spine” — the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
thornsnounUS /θɔːrnz/
plural of “thorn” — something that causes irritation and annoyance
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mrs. Nuddle was as opposite in every way as could be.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
in or at the place that
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
which person or people
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Highly improbable garments were sketched on utterly impossible figures--female eels who could crawl through their own garters, eels of strange mottlings, with heads like cranberries, feet like thorns, and no spines at all.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Somewhere along about this time, though there is no record of the exact date--and it was in a shabby home in a humble town where dates made little difference--a homely woman sniffed.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading What Mrs. Nuddle was sniffing at was a page of fashion cartoons, curious human hieroglyphs that women can read and run to buy.
