used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
react verbally
From this reading "No answer."
Arran's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Still his tone was cheerful as he said.
askanceadverbUS /əˈskæns/
with suspicion or disapproval
From this reading He regarded the buff-coloured envelope askance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
buff-colouredadjective
having a buff color
From this reading He regarded the buff-coloured envelope askance.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/
carefully thought out in advance
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
changefuladjective
such that alteration is possible; having a marked tendency to change
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading Still his tone was cheerful as he said.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He regarded the buff-coloured envelope askance.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
hall-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
only a very short time before
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
a person who loves someone or is loved by someone
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
man-servant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
moodsnounUS /muːdz/
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
easily agitated
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
not any; not one
From this reading "No answer."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
proppedverbUS /prɑːpt/
inflected form of “prop” — support by placing against something solid or rigid
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading He regarded the buff-coloured envelope askance.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Still his tone was cheerful as he said.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
sootheverbUS /suːð/
give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
not in physical motion
From this reading Still his tone was cheerful as he said.
telegramnounUS /ˈteləɡræm/
a message transmitted by telegraph
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading Still his tone was cheerful as he said.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
Vansittart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Since his engagement to Joan, he had been singularly nervous--her changeful moods were hardly calculated to soothe a lover!
at the time that
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning after the Duchess of Arran’s ball Lord Vansittart was seated at his breakfast, the _Times_ propped up in front of him, when a ring of the hall-door bell was followed by a man-servant’s entrance with a telegram.
