used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
aimsnounUS /eɪmz/
plural of “aim” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
caresnounUS /kerz/
plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
an occurrence of something
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
charmsnounUS /tʃɑːrmz/
plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
carefully weighed
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
deficientadjectiveUS /dɪˈfɪʃənt/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
Derek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
diffidentadjective
showing modest reserve
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
Eliot'snounUS /ˈeliəts/
possessive form of “eliot” — British poet (born in the United States) who won the Nobel prize for literature; his plays are outstanding examples of modern verse drama (1888-1965)
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
genealogynounUS /ˌdʒiːniˈɑːlədʒi/
successive generations of kin
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
an established custom
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
Knickerbocker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
Lucilla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
MinervanounUS /məˈnɜːrvə/
(Roman mythology) goddess of wisdom; counterpart of Greek Athena
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
on one occasion
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
outwardadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtwərd/
relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
profilenounUS /ˈproʊfaɪl/
an analysis (often in graphical form) representing the extent to which something exhibits various characteristics
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
summingverbUS /ˈsʌmɪŋ/
inflected form of “sum” — be a summary of
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
Tromp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading Miss Lucilla van Tromp passed among her friends as a sort of diffident Minerva.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though deficient in outward charms, she was considered to possess intellectual ability; and, having once been told that her profile resembled George Eliot's, she made the pursuit of learning, music, and Knickerbocker genealogy her special aims.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Derek had, all his life, felt for her a special tenderness; and having neither mother, wife, nor sister, he was in the habit of coming to her with his cares.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You're a woman," he declared, now, in summing up his case.
