used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
react verbally
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
carefully-worded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
Clyst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
gotten under control
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
daren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
dearly loved
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
Fullerford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
a young female
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
of the present time and place
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
Masterman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
MollienounUS /ˈmɑːli/
popular aquarium fish
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
Mollie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
and nothing more
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
WaterloonounUS /ˈwɔːtərluː/
a town in central Belgium where in 1815 Napoleon met his final defeat
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
wiredadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪərd/
equipped with wire or wires especially for electric or telephone service
From this reading Betty, nothing if not extravagant, wired back an immediate answer; and met her friend, two days before Christmas eve, in the holiday bustle at Waterloo station.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This year, to her surprise, she received a long, carefully-worded letter in Mollie's childish handwriting: a letter which contained the unusual suggestion that Mollie should spend Christmas with her.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It's too utterly dull for words."
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Every year, toward the end of November, Betty Masterman had been accustomed to receive an invitation to spend Christmas at Clyst Fullerford.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "My dear," wrote the girl, "I simply daren't ask you down here.
