Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading She is a darling--she is as nice as nice can be.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading She’s pretty, and she’s good, and she’s clever.

a special loved one

From this reading She is a darling--she is as nice as nice can be.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading She’s pretty, and she’s good, and she’s clever.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

possessive form of “lucy” — incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

not any; not one

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

out of fashion

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

and nothing more

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

above and across; more than

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading She’s pretty, and she’s good, and she’s clever.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

a state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

an educational institution

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She is a darling--she is as nice as nice can be.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She’s pretty, and she’s good, and she’s clever.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

plural of “stilt” — a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

in or at that place or location

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

which person or people

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Why, Miss Jones at the school is a nice young woman--don’t you be taken in by mother’s old-fashioned stilts.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

the art of sorcery

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I understand Lucy’s rapture over any stranger; but you, too, mother--” “I too--well, there is no particular witchcraft about it; a nice young woman has as much chance with me as with any one, Ralph--” “Oh, if it’s only a nice young woman--” “It’s a great deal more,” said Lucy.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading “And who is this young widow of yours whom I hear so much about?