used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
bestowedverbUS /bɪˈstoʊd/
past form of “bestow” — present
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
Burghnoun
a borough in Scotland
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
Burgh's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
for the most part
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
ContinentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
dilettantenoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
diplomaticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
relating to or characteristic of diplomacy
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
EnglishmennounUS /ˌeŋˈlɪʃmən/
plural of “englishman” — a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
exaggeratedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
HANDLINGnounUS /ˈhændlɪŋ/
manual (or mechanical) carrying or moving or delivering or working with something
From this reading HANDLING THE RIBBONS.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
ItaliansnounUS /ˌɪˈtæljənz/
plural of “italian” — a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
by chance
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
polishedadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃt/
perfected or made shiny and smooth
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
on the contrary
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
respectfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈspektfəl/
full of or exhibiting respect
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
RIBBONSnounUS /ˈrɪbənz/
plural of “ribbon” — any long object resembling a thin line
From this reading HANDLING THE RIBBONS.
roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
softnessnounUS /ˈsɔːftnəs/
the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
sojournnounUS /ˈsoʊdʒərn/
a temporary stay (e.g., as a guest)
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
sprinklingnounUS /ˈsprɪŋklɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
carry out
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HANDLING THE RIBBONS.
in or at that place or location
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading He rather amused her, for he was a new type to her.
unmistakableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbəl/
clearly evident to the mind
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading De Burgh was told off to take Katherine in to dinner that day and the next, and bestowed a good deal of his attention on her during the evening.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
belonging to which person
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The men she had met during her sojourn on the Continent were chiefly polished French and Italians, whose softness and respectful manner to women were perhaps exaggerated, and a sprinkling of diplomatic and dilettante Englishmen.
but in spite of that
From this reading De Burgh's style was curiously--almost roughly--frank, yet there was an unmistakable air of distinction about him.
