used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
aunt'snounUS /ænts/
possessive form of “aunt” — the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
awryadjectiveUS /ərˈaɪ/
turned or twisted toward one side
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
BIRTHDAYnounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
Chris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
Chris's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
condescensionnounUS /ˌkɑːndəˈsenʃən/
the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
fiancé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
firmamentnoun
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
a quick look
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
graciousnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪʃəsnəs/
excellence of manners or social conduct
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
and nothing more
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
immediately past
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
not in physical motion
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
supremelyadverbUS /suːˈpriːməli/
to the maximum degree
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIRTHDAY PARTY "At last!" said Chris.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
treatingverbUS /ˈtriːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “treat” — interact in a certain way
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
twenty-onenounUS /ˈtwentiwɔːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty and one
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
unaccompaniedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈkʌmpənid/
being without an escort
From this reading She had just caught a glimpse of her _fiancé_ in the crowd below her, and a hasty second glance had shown her that he was not unaccompanied.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
precisely as stated
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was her birthday party, and she stood at the head of the stairs by her aunt's side, receiving her guests.
belonging to which person
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her aunt, one of those ladies whose very smile is in itself an act of condescension, was treating her with unusual graciousness that night, and there was not a star awry in Chris's firmament.
a late time of life
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Very young she looked, a child still, despite her twenty-one years, and supremely happy.
