used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
Alec
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
(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 If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
any thing at all
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
a female human offspring
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
discussverbUS /dɪˈskʌs/
to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
Edward'snounUS /ˈedwərdz/
possessive form of “edward” — King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
HalifaxnounUS /ˈhælɪfæks/
provincial capital and largest city of Nova Scotia
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
joined in matrimony
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
and nothing more
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
mooted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
Olivia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
projectverbUS /ˈprɑːdʒekt/
communicate vividly
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
in a serious manner
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
a special situation
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If a thing really was out of the question she merely laughed and refused to discuss it at all.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
urgingnounUS /ˈɜːrdʒɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading “It’s utterly out of the question,” said Aunt Janet seriously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
at the time that
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The particular matter in or out of the question that opening day of August was a project which Uncle Edward had recently mooted.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When Aunt Janet said seriously that anything was out of the question it meant that she was thinking about it, and would probably end up by doing it.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
youngestadjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡəst/
superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Uncle Edward’s youngest daughter was to be married; and Uncle Edward had written over, urging Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet and Aunt Olivia to go down to Halifax for the wedding and spend a week there.
