used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
AlfrednounUS /ˈælfrəd/
king of Wessex; defeated the Vikings and encouraged writing in English (849-899)
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
deservingadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
(often used ironically) worthy of being treated in a particular way
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
dischargeverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒ/
complete or carry out
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
distractingverbUS /dɪˈstræktɪŋ/
-ing form of “distract” — draw someone's attention away from something
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
emphaticallyadverbUS /emˈfætɪkli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
entertainmentsnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənts/
plural of “entertainment” — an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
FashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
Hester's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
MadrasnounUS /ˈmædrəs/
a state in southeastern India on the Bay of Bengal (south of Andhra Pradesh); formerly Madras
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
amounting to a large indefinite number
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
something you have to do
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
Rayner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
registeredadjectiveUS /ˈredʒɪstərd/
(of animals) officially recorded with or certified by a recognized breed association; especially in a stud book
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
