used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
bangverbUS /bæŋ/
strike violently
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
cushionsnounUS /ˈkʊʃənz/
plural of “cushion” — a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
gettin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
a quick look
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
the act of departing
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
come to pass
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
hat-compartments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
HatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
headgearnounUS /ˈhedɡɪr/
clothing for the head
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
Isla
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
Isla's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
jabbedverbUS /dʒæbd/
inflected form of “jab” — poke or thrust abruptly
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
moonstonenounUS /ˈmuːnstoʊn/
a transparent or translucent gemstone with a pearly luster; some specimens are orthoclase feldspar and others are plagioclase feldspar
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
and nothing more
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
pinsnounUS /pɪnz/
plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
removingverbUS /riˈmuːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “remove” — remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
in the near future
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
stuffingnounUS /ˈstʌfɪŋ/
a mixture of seasoned ingredients used to stuff meats and vegetables
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
they'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
create by training and teaching
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading IN THE LONDON TRAIN The train had started before Isla’s travelling companion caught a glimpse of her face.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
unsuitableadjectiveUS /ənˈsuːtəbəl/
not meant or adapted for a particular purpose
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Soon they’ll need to get us hat-compartments.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading What she did see was only the purple lady removing her large and unsuitable headgear, which seemed to interfere with her comfort.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She rose up with a sudden bang from her seat, with the result that, in spite of herself, Isla lowered her paper a little to see what was going to happen.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading "Hats are gettin’ worse every day," she said with a pleasant smile as she jabbed two immense pins with imitation moonstone tops into the stuffing of the cushions behind her.
