used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
arms-akimbo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
bouncingnounUS /ˈbaʊnsɪŋ/
rebounding from an impact (or series of impacts)
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
butter-colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
butter-colored-hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
buxomadjectiveUS /ˈbʌksəm/
(of a woman's body) having a large bosom and pleasing curves
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I commenced looking for my paragon in January.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
creamerynounUS /ˈkriːməri/
a workplace where dairy products (butter and cheese etc.) are produced or sold
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
DAIRYMAIDnoun
a woman who works in a dairy
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
gilt-edgedadjective
of the highest quality or value
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
giltest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading I commenced looking for my paragon in January.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
engage in
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I commenced looking for my paragon in January.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
paragonnounUS /ˈperəɡɑːn/
an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
From this reading I commenced looking for my paragon in January.
processesnounUS /ˈprɑːsesəz/
plural of “process” — a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
red-cheeked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
a source of difficulty
From this reading THE DAIRYMAID Of course I had trouble in getting a dairymaid.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
precisely as stated
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was not looking for the bouncing, buxom, red-cheeked, arms-akimbo, butter-colored-hair sort.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I didn't care whether she were red-cheeked and bouncing or not, but for obvious reasons I didn't want her hair to be butter-colored.
which person or people
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What I did want was a woman who understood creamery processes, and who could and would make the very giltest of gilt-edged butter.
