used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
acquireverbUS /əˈkwaɪər/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
anew
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
associatesnounUS /əˈsoʊsiəts/
plural of “associate” — a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
for the reason that
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
day-dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
conceived of or imagined or hoped for
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
at any time
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
ForeshadowingnounUS /fɔːrˈʃædoʊɪŋ/
the act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
FRIENDSHIPSnounUS /ˈfrendʃɪps/
plural of “friendship” — the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading IDEAL FRIENDSHIPS.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
a man of refinement
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
a young female
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
girl-readers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
HalifaxnounUS /ˈhælɪfæks/
provincial capital and largest city of Nova Scotia
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
IDEALadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading IDEAL FRIENDSHIPS.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
immediately past
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
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 How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
engage in
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
not any; not one
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
many times at short intervals
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
by chance
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
puzzleverbUS /ˈpʌzəl/
be a mystery or bewildering to
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
sixteenadjectiveUS /sɪkˈstiːn/
being one more than fifteen
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
express a supposition
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
thoughtfuladjectiveUS /ˈθɔːtfəl/
having intellectual depth
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
twenty-threenounUS /ˈtwentiθriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-two and one
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
unnaturaladjectiveUS /ənˈnætʃərəl/
not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
precisely as stated
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
which person or people
From this reading I don't suppose there are many girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three who have not a great friend--a particular friend; and if there are, it is my opinion they cannot be the best kind of girls, because unnatural.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading How do girls make friends? and why do their friendships last very often but a short time? or, again, how is it they ever endure a long time? are questions which people who have forgotten their own early friendships, or, perhaps, never gave much thought to them, puzzle over in vain.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading Some one--I think it is the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"--has called friendship a "Foreshadowing of love"; and if it is natural for a woman to have a lover, it is no less natural for a girl to have a great friend among her girl associates.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading And they may have puzzled you too, my thoughtful girl-readers, who want the ideal friend you have read of or dreamed of in day-dreams, but neither possess nor know how to acquire.
