used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I had an appointment," he explained.
apologisedverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/
past form of “apologise” — defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning
From this reading He apologised breathlessly for being late.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading "I had an appointment," he explained.
AshtonnounUS /ˈæʃtən/
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He apologised breathlessly for being late.
braceletnounUS /ˈbreɪslət/
a band of cloth or leather or metal links attached to a wristwatch and wrapped around the wrist
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
breathlesslyadverbUS /ˈbreθləsli/
in a breathless manner
From this reading He apologised breathlessly for being late.
bunchnounUS /bʌntʃ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
elsewhereadverbUS /ˈelswer/
in or to another place
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
divisible by two
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "I had an appointment," he explained.
a competitor thought likely to win
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I had an appointment," he explained.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading He apologised breathlessly for being late.
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 When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
Marie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
come together
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
Micky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
being perceived or observed
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
on one occasion
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
prettiestadjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiəst/
superlative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
racedverbUS /reɪst/
past form of “race” — move hurridly
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
To recall to mind.
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/
showing signs of wear and tear
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
violetsnounUS /ˈvaɪələts/
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
at the time that
From this reading When Micky left Mrs. Ashton he raced off to meet Marie.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He did not even see that she wore the bracelet he had given her for a Christmas present, or remember that he had once told her violets were his favourite flowers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was looking quite her prettiest, in dark furs with a bunch of violets in the breast of her coat, but Micky would not have noticed if she had been shabby, his thoughts were elsewhere.
