used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
be in accord; be in agreement
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/
plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
Letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
Minnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
NinanounUS /ˈniːnə/
the Babylonian goddess of the watery deep and daughter of Ea
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
not any; not one
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
by chance
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
self-abnegationnoun
renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
express a supposition
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
carry out
From this reading “Let me take her!” suddenly exclaimed Nina, with an air of self-abnegation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “I quite agree--but there isn’t a sign of it.
a special situation
From this reading “A fit of religion might be no bad thing for _her_.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I shall have to send poor Minnie with Frances, I suppose.”
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Frances suggested her making this Retreat affair too, but she wouldn’t hear of it--fortunately enough, perhaps, since I should certainly have had to put my foot down.
