used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
Alice's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
a former copper coin of Pakistan and India
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
in a state of sleep
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
concreteadjectiveUS /kənˈkriːt/
capable of being perceived by the senses; not abstract or imaginary
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
deliberateadjectiveUS /dɪˈlɪbərət/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
set up or found
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
an established custom
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
JuniornounUS /ˈdʒuːnjər/
term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
and nothing more
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
LorrainenounUS /lərˈeɪn/
an eastern French region rich in iron-ore deposits
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
meditateverbUS /ˈmedəteɪt/
reflect deeply on a subject
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
MillernounUS /ˈmɪlər/
United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
mother-wit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
not any; not one
From this reading She had no plan.
and nothing more
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
Penny'snounUS /ˈpeniz/
possessive form of “penny” — a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
have the will and intention to carry out some action
From this reading She had no plan.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
procedurenounUS /prəˈsiːdʒər/
a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
on the contrary
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
solveverbUS /sɑːlv/
find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
in the near future
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
suggestionsnounUS /səˈdʒestʃənz/
plural of “suggestion” — an idea that is suggested
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
washing-upnoun
the washing of dishes etc after a meal
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
at the time that
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
WhereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her.
