used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
aglowadjectiveUS /əˈɡloʊ/
softly bright or radiant
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the result was unsatisfactory.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
cloud-blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
contentedadjectiveUS /kənˈtentəd/
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
dazzleverbUS /ˈdæzəl/
to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
fetchingadjectiveUS /ˈfetʃɪŋ/
very attractive; capturing interest
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
fly-away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
set up or found
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
intimidateverbUS /ˌɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/
make timid or fearful
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
iridescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈdesənt/
varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
organdienoun
a sheer stiff muslin
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
passableadjectiveUS /ˈpæsəbəl/
able to be passed or traversed or crossed
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
plumesnounUS /pluːmz/
plural of “plume” — anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She found Mary quite passable in cloud-blue organdie, a contented look in her gray eyes.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading But the result was unsatisfactory.
satinnounUS /ˈsætən/
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
sleevesnounUS /sliːvz/
plural of “sleeve” — the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
steadiedadjectiveUS /ˈstedid/
made steady or constant
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
tassels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this occasion Beatrice dressed to dazzle and intimidate one of her own sex.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
unsatisfactoryadjectiveUS /ˌʌnsətɪˈsfæktəri/
not giving satisfaction
From this reading But the result was unsatisfactory.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the result was unsatisfactory.
at the time that
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Beatrice took occasion to go to see Mary within the next few days.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In a particularly fetching costume of green satin with fly-away sleeves steadied by silver tassels and a black hat aglow with iridescent plumes she surprised Mary at an hour when Steve would be absent.
