used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
highly skilled
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
any thing at all
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
benignadjectiveUS /bɪˈnaɪn/
not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive (especially of a tumor)
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
Claude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
composurenounUS /kəmˈpoʊʒər/
steadiness of mind under stress
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
ConstancenounUS /ˈkɑːnstəns/
a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
draughtnounUS /dræft/
a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
divisible by two
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
apart from; not including
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
engage in
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
Markham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
only a very short time before
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
a source of difficulty
From this reading How to place the guests, even, had been a trouble to her, almost too great to be faced.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dinner, it need scarcely be said, was a strange one.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
which person or people
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Except in Constance, who was perfectly cool, and Claude, who was more concerned about a possible draught from a window than anything else, there was much agitation in the rest of the party.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But there are some things which are scarcely possible even to the most accomplished woman of the world.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lady Markham was nervously cordial, anxious to talk and to make everything “go”--which, indeed, she would have done far more effectually had she been able to retain her usual cheerful and benign composure.
