used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
acceptancenounUS /ækˈseptəns/
the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
eagerly desirous
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
any thing at all
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
connexionnounUS /kəˈnekʃən/
a connecting shape
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
the state of being friends (or friendly)
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
Isobel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
Isobel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
Mabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
engage in
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
Merediths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/
come to pass
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
overturesnounUS /ˈoʊvərtʃʊrz/
plural of “overture” — orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
prettilyadverb
in a pretty manner
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
proposalsnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəlz/
plural of “proposal” — something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
proposingverbUS /prəˈpoʊzɪŋ/
-ing form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
show unwillingness towards
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
a special situation
From this reading It was a ridiculous thing of course that Isobel should be proposing anything in connexion with the Merediths.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the more awkward since she was particularly anxious to make everything nice for Isobel.
WedgenounUS /wedʒ/
any shape that is triangular in cross section
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading She did nothing but refuse these overtures to friendship for the next week or so.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the proposals and the overtures seemed continually to occur in connexion with the Merediths.
wordedverbUS /ˈwɜːrdɪd/
past form of “word” — put into words or an expression
From this reading The Thin Edge of the Wedge It seemed to Mabel that Isobel’s proposals, kindly worded and prettily mentioned, were always impossible of acceptance.
