used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DISAPPOINTMENT.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
matters of personal concern
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
Aleck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
any thing at all
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
for the reason that
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
Bess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
Carl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
celebrationnounUS /ˌseləˈbreɪʃən/
a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
consentedverbUS /kənˈsentɪd/
past form of “consent” — give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
greatly pleased
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading A DISAPPOINTMENT.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
Dora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
Ikey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
not any; not one
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
pleasantest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
be standing; be upright
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
tea-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
precisely as stated
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
WarnernounUS /ˈwɔːrnər/
United States filmmaker who with his brothers founded the movie studio that produced the first talking picture (1881-1958)
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dora thought one of the pleasantest things about housekeeping was being able to give a tea-party now and then.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were of necessity very small affairs, if for no other reason than because Mrs. Warner could not stand much excitement.
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. Smith was delighted to do anything for Miss Dora, and finding out in some way when her birthday came, herself proposed a celebration.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Warner entered into the idea with unusual interest, so Dora consented to invite Bess, Louise, Carl, Aleck, and Ikey.
