used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
absurditynounUS /əbˈsɜːrdəti/
a message whose content is at variance with reason
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
AbuseverbUS /əˈbjuːs/
treat badly
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
accept an excuse for
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
eyeglassesnounUS /ˈaɪɡlæsəz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
a young female
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
gownsnounUS /ɡaʊnz/
plural of “gown” — a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
hatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How ridiculous!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
intellectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuːəl/
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
have in mind as a purpose
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
pausingverbUS /ˈpɔːzɪŋ/
-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading “How ridiculous!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
express a supposition
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She said she fancied I had grown too intellectual to care for gowns and hats!”
the act of using
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the Use and Abuse of Political Power “The absurdity of some people!” said the president, pausing as she was about to call the meeting to order.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had probably heard that you do not intend to send her a wedding present,” said the girl with the eyeglasses.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What excuse do you suppose Elizabeth gave for not asking me to look at her pretty things?
