used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
apprehensionnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “What is it?” asked the housekeeper, nervously.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
biddingnounUS /ˈbɪdɪŋ/
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
chargesnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “charge” — an impetuous rush toward someone or something
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
the act of discovering something
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
groceriesnounUS /ˈɡroʊsəriz/
plural of “grocery” — a marketplace where groceries are sold
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it?” asked the housekeeper, nervously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What is it?” asked the housekeeper, nervously.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
MercernounUS /ˈmɜːrsər/
a dealer in textiles (especially silks)
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading “What is it?” asked the housekeeper, nervously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
yielding a fair profit
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
pricesnounUS /ˈpraɪsəz/
plural of “price” — the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
reflectsverbUS /rɪˈflekts/
third-person singular of “reflect” — manifest or bring back
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
in a serious manner
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
express in speech
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/
English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The housekeeper turned at the bidding of her mistress, and gazed at her in apprehension, waiting for her to speak.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is it?” asked the housekeeper, nervously.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have made a discovery which reflects seriously upon you.”
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, it is that for a long time--I don’t know how long--I have been paying Mr. Talbot higher prices for groceries and other articles than he charges any one else.”
hope for; have a wish
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I wish to speak to you about another matter, Mrs. Mercer.
