used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
albeitconjunctionUS /ɔːlˈbiːɪt/
although
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
equally
From this reading She never told a story twice alike.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
BeethovennounUS /ˈbeɪtoʊvən/
German composer of instrumental music (especially symphonic and chamber music); continued to compose after he lost his hearing (1770-1827)
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
cause to be bored
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
Errington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
fertilitynounUS /fərˈtɪləti/
the ratio of live births in an area to the population of that area; expressed per 1000 population per year
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
foundationnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/
the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
groundworknounUS /ˈɡraʊndwɜːrk/
the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/
marked by a lack of interest
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
manifestationsnounUS /ˌmænəfeˈsteɪʃənz/
plural of “manifestation” — a clear appearance
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
maternaladjectiveUS /məˈtɜːrnəl/
characteristic of a mother
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/
tediously repetitious or lacking in variety
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
preventedverbUS /prɪˈventɪd/
past form of “prevent” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
producingverbUS /prəˈduːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
reproachnounUS /riˈproʊtʃ/
a mild rebuke or criticism
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She never told a story twice alike.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
spectatornounUS /ˈspekteɪtər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading She never told a story twice alike.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
surpassedverbUS /sərˈpæst/
past form of “surpass” — distinguish oneself
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
themenounUS /θiːm/
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading And this surprising fertility of hers prevented her from being a mere commonplace bore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading She never told a story twice alike.
two times
From this reading She never told a story twice alike.
unexpectednessnoun
extraordinariness by virtue of being unexpected
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
vanitynounUS /ˈvænəti/
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
variationsnounUS /ˌveriˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “variation” — an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change
From this reading Beethoven himself never surpassed her in the power of producing variations on one simple theme.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was always an element of unexpectedness in her conversation, albeit the groundwork and foundation of it varied but little.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The manifestations of maternal vanity are apt to appear monotonous to the indifferent spectator; but, in Mrs. Errington such manifestations were, at least, not open to that reproach.
