used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
correctlyadverbUS /kərˈektli/
in an accurate manner
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
at any time
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
accept an excuse for
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
influenzanounUS /ˌɪnfluːˈenzə/
an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
and nothing more
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
conformity or harmony
From this reading KEEPING SHOP.
immediately past
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
Madge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
politelyadverbUS /pəˈlaɪtli/
in a polite manner
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
express in words
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
do one's shopping
From this reading KEEPING SHOP.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
a source of difficulty
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
precisely as stated
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading "You must excuse me, miss," she went on, "for ever since I had the influenza last winter my hearing has not been what it was before.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "What did you say you wanted, miss?" inquired the old woman, thinking that she had not heard correctly what Madge asked for.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I am very sorry to trouble you, but I won't be long."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Please may I just look in your cellar for a minute?" began Madge very politely, as she entered the shop.
