used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
acted upon; influenced
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
Annie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
Braithwaite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
capriciousadjectiveUS /kəˈprɪʃəs/
changeable
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
caressedverbUS /kərˈest/
past form of “caress” — touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
a young person of either sex
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
coldnessnounUS /ˈkoʊldnəs/
the sensation produced by low temperatures
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
ElmsnounUS /elmz/
plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
apart from; not including
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
a social unit living together
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
ignoreverbUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːr/
refuse to acknowledge
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
key-note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
Lilian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
not divisible by two
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
shunverbUS /ʃʌn/
avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
teasedadjectiveUS /tiːzd/
feeling mild pleasurable excitement
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Annie did not find life at the Elms such a miserable affair as she had expected.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
interact in a certain way
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
tête-à-têtes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading George was kind, but instinct made her shun _tête-à-têtes_ with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That first evening the key-note was struck of the conduct of each member of the family toward her.
at the time that
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Braithwaite continued to treat her with distant coldness, or affected to ignore her entirely.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Lilian followed suit, except at odd moments of capricious good humor, when she would treat her like a pretty child to be teased and caressed.
