used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
boardersnounUS /ˈbɔːrdərz/
plural of “boarder” — a tenant in someone's house
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
causticadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstɪk/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
commercialadjectiveUS /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/
connected with or engaged in or sponsored by or used in commerce or commercial enterprises
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
DEEPENSverbUS /ˈdiːpənz/
third-person singular of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
DisagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
a social unit living together
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is her name?"
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading This was three months since."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "What is her name?"
neighbornounUS /ˈneɪbər/
a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
cut with a saw
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This was three months since."
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MYSTERY DEEPENS.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was three months since."
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading This was three months since."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
travelernounUS /ˈtrævələr/
a person who changes location
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
which person or people
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
belonging to which person
From this reading Looking about the table to see what changes had occurred in the family, I saw sitting opposite to me a woman of somewhat unusual appearance, whose caustic speech made her feared by the rest of the boarders.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "The first time I met the Disagreeable Woman," said my neighbor, who was a commercial traveler, "was on my return from a business trip.
