used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
having companions or an escort
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Lady Milmo italicised freely, “obstinate” being doubly underlined.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
besought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/
to double the degree
From this reading Lady Milmo italicised freely, “obstinate” being doubly underlined.
Ella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
in a free manner
From this reading Lady Milmo italicised freely, “obstinate” being doubly underlined.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
italicised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Milmo italicised freely, “obstinate” being doubly underlined.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/
plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
matrimonynounUS /ˈmætrəmoʊni/
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
Milmo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
mulenounUS /mjuːl/
hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse; usually sterile
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
not any; not one
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
a brief written record
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
obstinateadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbstənət/
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
occurrencenounUS /əˈkɜːrəns/
an event that happens
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
and nothing more
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
Sylvester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
sympathised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
a special situation
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
underlinedverbUS /ˈʌndərlaɪnd/
past form of “underline” — give extra weight to (a communication)
From this reading Lady Milmo italicised freely, “obstinate” being doubly underlined.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading A few days afterwards Sylvester received an invitation to the wedding, accompanied by a despairing note from Lady Milmo.
at the time that
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
which person or people
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
in the company of; together with
From this reading She hoped, however, that the lovers would be happy, explained that the wedding would be as quiet as her enormous circle of acquaintance would allow, and besought Sylvester to come and support her as the only soul that sympathised with her in this disastrous occurrence.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When a woman was _bent_ on a thing, especially _matrimony_, no mule in the world was so _obstinate_.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Ella _would_ do it, and who could prevent her?
