used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
regarded with admiration
From this reading SOMEBODY ADMIRED SOMEBODY.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
attentiveadjectiveUS /əˈtentɪv/
(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
give a benediction to
From this reading Bless you, child, you know what I mean.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
a young person of either sex
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
for a limitless time
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
frocksnounUS /frɑːks/
plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
hand-squeezing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Bless you, child, you know what I mean.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
Matty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Bless you, child, you know what I mean.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
not any; not one
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
on one occasion
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
a person, without saying who
From this reading SOMEBODY ADMIRED SOMEBODY.
express in words
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Was there any hand-squeezing, and was he always and forever making an excuse to have a look at her.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Then, if that's the case," said Mrs. Bell, "if that's really and truly the case, and no mistake about it, Matty must have some new frocks made up for her at once.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Bless you, child, you know what I mean.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I have no idea of a child of mine looking shabby or behind any one else, but you must tell me truly, Alice, if he really was attentive.
