used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And thereby hangs a tale.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
anniversarynounUS /ˌænəˈvɜːrsəri/
the date on which an event occurred in some previous year (or the celebration of it)
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
appealedverbUS /əˈpiːld/
past form of “appeal” — take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
Arethusanoun
any of several bog orchids of the genus Arethusa having 1 or 2 showy flowers
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
Asenath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
Asenath's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
birfday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
bouquetnounUS /buːˈkeɪ/
an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
psychological suffering
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
be a farmer; work as a farmer
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
usually; as a rule
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
the act of departing
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
hangsnounUS /hæŋz/
plural of “hang” — a special way of doing something
From this reading And thereby hangs a tale.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
of great significance or value
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
lispnounUS /lɪsp/
a speech defect that involves pronouncing “s” like voiceless “th” and “z” like voiced “th”
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
logicnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪk/
the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
and nothing more
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
shoppingnounUS /ˈʃɑːpɪŋ/
searching for or buying goods or services
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/
the quality of being significant
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading And thereby hangs a tale.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading And thereby hangs a tale.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
twentiethnounUS /ˈtwentiəθ/
position 20 in a countable series of things
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
precisely as stated
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Arethusa was going shopping, and going shopping for the very first time in her life, alone.
WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/
the fourth day of the week; the third working day
From this reading Wednesday coming was Miss Asenath's birthday, and Arethusa had completely lost track of that important fact to forget it until this Monday morning.
which person or people
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading She, who had given Miss Asenath something, if only a tight bouquet of flowers from the plants brought into the house for the winter, every birthday anniversary since she was old enough to lisp "birfday" and comprehend its significance, had forgotten that this event was so near.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She could have made her a gift as she generally did had there been time to finish it and send it so it would reach the Farm on the twentieth; but it would not be a birthday gift if Miss Asenath did not get it on her birthday (this was logic to Arethusa); so in her distress she had appealed to Elinor.
