Chapter XV

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

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

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

not any; not one

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Dempster said.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The ladies had come to call in their best gowns.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading These dresses were not brought out for every occasion; but to-day was exceptional.

at the time that

From this reading “And when is it going to be?”

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

From this reading Miss Beenie’s was puce, an excellent silk of the kind Mrs. Primrose chose for wear--and Miss Dempster’s was black satin, a little shiny by reason of its years, but good, no material better.