used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FOUR IN A FLY.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
to or in a foreign country
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
completely unclothed
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
companion's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
constitutionaladjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃənəl/
of benefit to or intended to benefit your physical makeup
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
put on clothes
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
début
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
Emma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading FOUR IN A FLY.
footpathnounUS /ˈfʊtpæθ/
a trodden path
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading FOUR IN A FLY.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
hedgesnounUS /ˈhedʒɪz/
plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FOUR IN A FLY.
inclinationnounUS /ˌɪnkləˈneɪʃən/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
lengtheningnounUS /ˈleŋθənɪŋ/
the act of prolonging something
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
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 We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
engage in
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I had been forced abroad—much against my inclination—to “get a color.”
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
on one occasion
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
possessing material wealth
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
satinnounUS /ˈsætən/
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
skirtnounUS /skɜːrt/
cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
stitchingnounUS /ˈstɪtʃɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
Stonebrook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
surprisinglyadverbUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋli/
in a surprising manner
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading This tramp along a muddy footpath was the result of my companion’s extreme anxiety with respect to my complexion!
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
uninterestingadjectiveUS /əˈnɪntrəstɪŋ/
arousing no interest or attention or curiosity or excitement
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A few days before Christmas, Emma and I were taking a constitutional (a walk for duty, not for pleasure) between two bare uninteresting hedges, about a mile from Stonebrook.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
a Caucasian
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
in the company of; together with
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading We had been stitching all the morning at the dress in which I was to make my _début_ at the Abbey—a rich white satin, long and plain, which Emma had worn but once, and that fitted me with surprisingly little alteration, beyond lengthening the skirt.
