used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Women are like automobiles, you know.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
automobilesnounUS /ˈɔːtəmoʊbiːlz/
plural of “automobile” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading "Women are like automobiles, you know.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/
having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
set up or found
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
a young female
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What model?" he asked, suspiciously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
indifferentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrəntli/
with indifference; in an indifferent manner
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Women are like automobiles, you know.
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/
in a slow and lazy manner
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Women are like automobiles, you know.
luxuriouslyadverb
in an indulgently luxurious manner
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
engage in
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There are so many models.
modelnounUS /ˈmɑːdəl/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
modelsnounUS /ˈmɑːdəlz/
plural of “model” — a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading There are so many models.
paddleverbUS /ˈpædəl/
propel with a paddle
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
patentverbUS /ˈpætənt/
obtain a patent for
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
pillowsnounUS /ˈpɪloʊz/
plural of “pillow” — a cushion to support the head of a sleeping person
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
express in words
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
skirtsnounUS /skɜːrts/
plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There are so many models.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading "What model?" he asked, suspiciously.
express in words
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
in or at that place or location
From this reading There are so many models.
toesnounUS /toʊz/
plural of “toe” — one of the digits of the foot
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
tuckingverbUS /ˈtʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “tuck” — fit snugly into
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
variegatedadjectiveUS /ˈverɪɡeɪtɪd/
having a variety of colors
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
precisely as stated
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The bachelor glanced up indifferently and dipped the paddle lazily into the water.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
which person or people
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "Women are like automobiles, you know.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "WHAT would you say," asked the widow, tucking her skirts cautiously about her patent leather toes and leaning back luxuriously against the variegated pillows, "if I should tell you that I have found the very girl who would make you a model wife?"
![The Widow [To Say Nothing of the Man]](/static/images/covers-gen/the-widow-to-say-nothing-of-the-man.academy.webp)