used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
for the reason that
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
bobbingverbUS /ˈbɑːbɪŋ/
inflected form of “bob” — move up and down repeatedly
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
boundsnounUS /baʊndz/
the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading “Children, children, don’t forget your manners.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
curtseynoun
bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
disordersnounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdərz/
plural of “disorder” — a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
dollsnounUS /dɑːlz/
plural of “doll” — a small replica of a person; used as a toy
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Children, children, don’t forget your manners.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading “Children, children, don’t forget your manners.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/
compatibility in opinion and action
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
engage in
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
social deportment
From this reading “Children, children, don’t forget your manners.
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
not any; not one
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
on one occasion
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
supervisingnounUS /ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/
management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Make a nice curtsey to Mr. Martin.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Because (heavens!) it was bad enough for _her_ to feel as she did: she couldn’t endure the thought of Janet and Sylvia and Rose growing up to such--such disorders.
well-regulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once they became well-regulated little dolls.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading What a picture, she thought: The Curtsey ... the three children bobbing, their mother in the background, supervising as it were: seeing that Life kept within bounds, did no violence to the harmony of the composition.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Children, children, don’t forget your manners.
