used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
Anglicised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
anticipationnounUS /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/
an expectation
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
JosephsnounUS /ˈdʒoʊsɪfs/
plural of “joseph” — leader of the Nez Perce in their retreat from United States troops (1840-1904)
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
used to form the superlative
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
Muriel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
many times at short intervals
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
realisationnounUS /ˈriːləˈzeɪʃən/
a musical composition that has been completed or enriched by someone other than the composer
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
realiseverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/
earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading Paul and I made our call one fine Sunday afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading After too keen an anticipation of pleasure, the actual realisation is often a disappointment.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My first impression of Muriel was a disappointment.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
which person or people
From this reading The Josephs were French people, who were not entirely Anglicised, and they received every Sunday.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was a striking, unusual type, most attractive in her way; but at first she failed to realise the mental picture I had drawn of her; and did not strike me as I had expected she would.
