used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
(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 ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
any thing at all
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading ‘It’s lovely,’ said Caroline; ‘and the beautiful brushes, too!’
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
birthdaynounUS /ˈbɜːrθdeɪ/
an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
blotting-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
inflected form of “buy” — obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
brushesnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪz/
plural of “brush” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading ‘It’s lovely,’ said Caroline; ‘and the beautiful brushes, too!’
CarolineadjectiveUS /ˈkerəlaɪn/
of or relating to the life and times of kings Charles I or Charles II of England
From this reading ‘It’s lovely,’ said Caroline; ‘and the beautiful brushes, too!’
Caroline's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
CharlottenounUS /ˈʃɑːrlət/
the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
fitchnounUS /fɪtʃ/
dark brown mustelid of woodlands of Eurasia that gives off an unpleasant odor when threatened
From this reading ‘Real fitch,’ said Charles proudly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
only a very short time before
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading ‘It’s lovely,’ said Caroline; ‘and the beautiful brushes, too!’
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
to a great degree or extent
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
niceradjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsər/
comparative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
paint-box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
coated with paint
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
paintsnounUS /peɪnts/
plural of “paint” — a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
a light shade of red
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/
plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
proudlyadverbUS /ˈpraʊdli/
with pride; in a proud manner
From this reading ‘Real fitch,’ said Charles proudly.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading ‘Real fitch,’ said Charles proudly.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading ‘It’s lovely,’ said Caroline; ‘and the beautiful brushes, too!’
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
precisely as stated
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BEGINNING It was Caroline’s birthday, and she had had some very pleasant presents.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I’ve hardly used it at all,’ he said, ‘and it’s much nicer than anything I could have bought you with my own money, and I’ve wiped all the paints clean.’
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading There was a blotting-book of blue leather (at least, it looked like leather), with pink and purple roses painted on it, from her younger sister Charlotte; and a paint-box—from her brother Charles—as good as new.
