used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
applyingverbUS /əˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “apply” — put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
bien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
blanchisserie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
capsnounUS /kæps/
plural of “cap” — a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
CharlottenounUS /ˈʃɑːrlət/
the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
colloquialadjectiveUS /kəˈloʊkwiəl/
characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
costlyadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːstli/
entailing great loss or sacrifice
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
dialectnounUS /ˈdaɪəlekt/
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
dérange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
finnounUS /fɪn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
the act of departing
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
humblyadverbUS /ˈhʌmbli/
in a humble manner
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
insistverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɪst/
be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
ironingnounUS /ˈaɪərnɪŋ/
garments (clothes or linens) that are to be (or have been) ironed
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
Je
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
Marta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
nenounUS /niː/
a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
something you have to do
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
ParisianadjectiveUS /pərˈɪʒən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Paris or its inhabitants
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
parler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
pasnounUS /pɑːz/
(ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
patronnenoun
a woman who is a patron or the wife of a patron
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
a human being
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
on the contrary
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
cut with a saw
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
do one's shopping
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
sinounUS /siː/
a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
thoroughadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːroʊ/
painstakingly careful and accurate
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
transparentadjectiveUS /trænˈsperənt/
transmitting light; able to be seen through with clarity
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two or three times he took her and Marta for a drive.
voudrais
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a French _blanchisserie de fin_, and the sight of it interested and excited her so much that she must needs insist on being put down and on going into it.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a Caucasian
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading On one of these occasions, as they went down Charlotte Street, she saw a shop with transparent French blinds in the window, and through them some French women, with neat white caps, ironing.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
work-woman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patronne, a genial Parisian, was much astonished to hear a great French lady, in costly garments, evidently a person of fashion and importance, applying to her rather humbly for employment in the business, and showing a thorough knowledge of the work (and of the Parisian work-woman's colloquial dialect).
à
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
ça
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Je voudrais bien parler à la patronne, si ça ne la dérange pas," she said.
