used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Wanda was more sinned against than sinning.
(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 It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
in addition
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
despiseverbUS /dɪˈspaɪz/
look down on with disdain
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
take in liquids
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
drownedverbUS /draʊnd/
past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
every person
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
insultnounUS /ˌɪnˈsʌlt/
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
past form of “invite” — increase the likelihood of
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
Jamie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
misjudgedverbUS /mɪsˈdʒʌdʒd/
past form of “misjudge” — judge incorrectly
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Wanda was more sinned against than sinning.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
as might be expected
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
not any; not one
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
overshadowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊd/
past form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
plagueverbUS /pleɪɡ/
cause to suffer a blight
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
Identical; not different.
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
SeymournounUS /ˈsiːmɔːr/
Queen of England as the third wife of Henry VIII and mother of Edward VI (1509-1537)
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
have in common
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
sinnedverbUS /sɪnd/
inflected form of “sin” — commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law
From this reading Wanda was more sinned against than sinning.
sinningnounUS /ˈsɪnɪŋ/
an act that is regarded by theologians as a transgression of God's will
From this reading Wanda was more sinned against than sinning.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
sorrowsnounUS /ˈsɑːroʊz/
plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/
English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Wanda was more sinned against than sinning.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
Valérie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
Wanda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
which person or people
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading It was Mary who suggested that Barbara and Jamie should be asked to share their Christmas dinner, while Stephen who must suddenly pity Wanda for a misjudged and very unfortunate genius, invited her also—after all why not?
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading An ill wind it is that blows no one any good.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Their Christmas was naturally overshadowed, and so, as it were by a common impulse, they turned to such people as Barbara and Jamie, people who would neither despise nor insult them.
an affirmative
From this reading She drank, oh, yes, Wanda drowned her sorrows; everybody knew that, and like Valérie Seymour, Stephen hated drink like the plague—but all the same she invited Wanda.
