used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
batistenounUS /bəˈtɪstə/
a thin plain-weave cotton or linen fabric; used for shirts or dresses
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
behestnounUS /bɪˈhest/
an authoritative command or request
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
chatterverbUS /ˈtʃætər/
click repeatedly or uncontrollably
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
CreepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
Elly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
festivalnounUS /ˈfestəvəl/
a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
fritteredverbUS /ˈfrɪtərd/
past form of “fritter” — spend frivolously and unwisely
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
frocknounUS /frɑːk/
a long, loose outer garment
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
a state of high honor
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
not in action or at work
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
only a very short time before
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
shame-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
toilettenoun
the act of dressing and preparing yourself
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
a shaky motion
From this reading Surely to-day was a festival--the behest of her life; and in half shame-faced joy her trembling soul scarcely dared look forward to the glory it was to bring forth.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a mercy that Elly didn't wake.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
whip-cord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first she thought of putting on her light batiste frock--the one with the whip-cord pattern--that suited her best, and looked so fresh and festive.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Creeping about on naked feet, she went on with her toilette.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading What torture it would have been if these first holy hours had had to be frittered away in idle chatter!
