used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
any person at all
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
cargonounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
put on clothes
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
fear-inspiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
figuredadjectiveUS /ˈfɪɡjərd/
(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
GeorgesnounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
plural of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
by chance
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
the act of having and controlling property
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
a particular situation
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
do one's shopping
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
stilledverbUS /stɪld/
past form of “still” — make calm or still
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
taffetanounUS /ˈtæfətə/
a crisp smooth lustrous fabric
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
express in words
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/
lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
uptownnounUS /ˈʌpˈtaʊn/
a residential part of town away from the central commercial district
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Had she been asked quite suddenly what that had to do with a figured taffeta dress, she might not, perhaps, have been able to tell.
at the time that
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That day, after Ruth had delivered her fear-inspiring cargo, which had doubtless been stolen from Fort Georges, to the proper authorities, she went uptown to shop.
whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/
a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
From this reading When an uneasy feeling took possession of her she stilled it by whispering, “Life is a joke.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading There she selected with care a figured taffeta dress, a bright new hat and new shoes.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I won’t show them to anyone until Sunday,” she told herself.
