used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OLD SERVANT.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
antiqueadjectiveUS /ænˈtiːk/
made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
approachesnounUS /əˈproʊtʃəz/
plural of “approach” — ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
breedverbUS /briːd/
call forth
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
butler'snounUS /ˈbʌtlərz/
possessive form of “butler” — a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
Clifford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
commencedverbUS /kəˈmenst/
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
the act of departing
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
jobation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading AN OLD SERVANT.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
pantrynounUS /ˈpæntri/
a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
go across or through
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
PaternounUS /ˈpeɪtər/
an informal use of the Latin word for father; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
paternaladjectiveUS /pəˈtɜːrnəl/
belonging to or inherited from one's father
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
propitiateverb
make peace with
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
provincialadjectiveUS /prəˈvɪnʃəl/
of or associated with a province
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
reconciliationnounUS /ˌrekənsɪliˈeɪʃən/
the reestablishing of cordial relations
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading AN OLD SERVANT.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
tacklenounUS /ˈtækəl/
the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He slipped into Clifford Hall at night, and commenced his approaches by going to the butler's pantry.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
up to a particular time
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
unreasonablyadverbUS /ənˈriːzənəbli/
not in a reasonable or intelligent manner
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
German conductor (1876-1962)
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here he was safe, and knew it; a faithful old butler of the antique and provincial breed is apt to be more unreasonably paternal than Pater himself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
weanedadjectiveUS /wiːnd/
freed of dependence on something especially (for mammals) mother's milk
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Walter Clifford returned home pretty well weaned from trade, and anxious to propitiate his father, but well aware that on his way to reconciliation he must pass through jobation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading To this worthy, then, Walter owed a good bed, a good supper, and good advice: "Better not tackle him till I have had a word with him first."
