used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
ChattyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃæti/
full of trivial conversation
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
commotionnounUS /kəˈmoʊʃən/
a disorderly outburst or tumult
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
decoratedadjectiveUS /ˈdekəreɪtɪd/
provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
Don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
divisible by two
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
giltadjectiveUS /ɡɪlt/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
lodging-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
mantelpiecenoun
shelf that projects from wall above fireplace
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
a brief written record
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Her mother laughed, but was a little excited even by this mild matter; but Chatty did not feel any excitement.
timepiecenounUS /ˈtaɪmpiːs/
a measuring instrument or device for keeping time
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
vortexnounUS /ˈvɔːrteks/
the shape of something rotating rapidly
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
Warrender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the mantelpiece of the little lodging-house drawing-room in Half Moon Street, supported against the gilt group that decorated the timepiece, was a note containing an invitation.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why, here is the whirl beginning already," Mrs. Warrender said.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading To the elder woman, the mere sense of the population about her, the hurry in the street, the commotion in the air, was an excitement.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Don't you feel that you are in the vortex, Chatty?"
