used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
aboundedverbUS /əˈbaʊndɪd/
past form of “abound” — be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
achievedverbUS /əˈtʃiːvd/
past form of “achieve” — to gain with effort
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
matters of personal concern
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
from appearances alone
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
CaldwellnounUS /ˈkɔːldwel/
United States author remembered for novels about poverty and degeneration (1903-1987)
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
a young person of either sex
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
coiffurenoun
the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman's hair)
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
coronetnounUS /ˈkɔːrəˈnet/
a small crown; usually indicates a high rank but below that of sovereign
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
eighteenthadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
eliminatedverbUS /ɪˈlɪməneɪtɪd/
past form of “eliminate” — terminate, end, or take out
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
frocksnounUS /frɑːks/
plural of “frock” — a long, loose outer garment
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
a young female
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
girlishadjectiveUS /ˈɡɜːrlɪʃ/
befitting or characteristic of a young girl
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
held up in the air
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
mergeverbUS /mɜːrdʒ/
become one
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
nineteennounUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eighteen and one
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
nineteenthadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪnˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the eighteenth in position
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
permanentlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrmənəntli/
for a long time without essential change
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
precociousadjectiveUS /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
characterized by or characteristic of exceptionally early development or maturity (especially in mental aptitude)
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
regaladjectiveUS /ˈriːɡəl/
belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
repertoirenounUS /ˈrepərtwɑːr/
the entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used in a particular field or occupation
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
rolenounUS /roʊl/
the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
Shadyville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
Sheila's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
spectacularadjectiveUS /spekˈtækjələr/
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
startlinglyadverbUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋliː/
in a startling manner
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
the upper part of anything
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
vanitiesnounUS /ˈvænətiz/
plural of “vanity” — feelings of excessive pride
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
precisely as stated
From this reading But despite her regal coiffure, she remained very much of a child.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading At nineteen the girl was ready, at the touch of fate, to merge the child in the woman; but there was nothing of the conventional young lady about her, though she led the same life as other girls in Shadyville, a life that abounded in parties---in town through the winter and at the country houses in the summer--and little sex vanities and love affairs.
womanlyadjective
befitting or characteristic of a woman especially a mature woman
From this reading On her seventeenth birthday, her frocks were lowered to her slender ankles; on her eighteenth, she permanently assumed the dignity of full length skirts; on her nineteenth, she lifted her hair from its soft, girlish knot on her neck to a womanly coronet upon the top of her head.
a late time of life
From this reading There was nothing spectacular or startlingly precocious about Sheila's development during the next few years.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Mrs. Caldwell had achieved the apparently impossible; she had eliminated the role of the "young lady" from Sheila's _repertoire_.
