used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
admiringverbUS /ædˈmaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “admire” — feel admiration for
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
appliancesnounUS /əˈplaɪənsəz/
plural of “appliance” — a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Miss Joanna had been as good as her word.
assortmentnounUS /əˈsɔːrtmənt/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
Beckwith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
bric-à-brac
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
brushesnounUS /ˈbrʌʃɪz/
plural of “brush” — a dense growth of bushes
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
canvasesnounUS /ˈkænvəsɪz/
plural of “canvas” — a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
chamoisnoun
a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
a female human offspring
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
decorationsnounUS /ˌdekərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “decoration” — something used to beautify
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
decorator's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
dustersnounUS /ˈdʌstərz/
plural of “duster” — a windstorm that lifts up clouds of dust or sand
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
earnedadjectiveUS /ɜːrnd/
gained or acquired; especially through merit or as a result of effort or action
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
at any time
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
expendedverbUS /ɪkˈspendɪd/
past form of “expend” — use up, consume fully
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
gaylyadverb
in a joyous manner
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Miss Joanna had been as good as her word.
characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
feeling or showing gratitude
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
Isabelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
Joanna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Joanna had been as good as her word.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading THREE YEARS LATER.--THE RESULT.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Joanna had been as good as her word.
the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
not any; not one
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
painternounUS /ˈpeɪntər/
an artist who paints
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
panelnounUS /ˈpænəl/
sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
possessornounUS /pəˈzesər/
a person who owns something
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading THREE YEARS LATER.--THE RESULT.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THREE YEARS LATER.--THE RESULT.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading THREE YEARS LATER.--THE RESULT.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Three years have passed since Isabelle ran gayly over the fields to greet her mother and to receive the first money she had ever earned in her life.
not known
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The dinner-party had been a complete success, with Mrs. Beckwith and her elder daughter among the guests, and with no end of admiring phrases concerning the graceful decorations of the old house falling upon the decorator’s grateful ears.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
virtunoun
love of or taste for fine objects of art
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
Wistarianoun
any flowering vine of the genus Wisteria
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The little check made out in her mother’s name for “the unknown painter of the Wistaria panel” had been used to supply its possessor with an assortment of the best dusters, brushes, and chamois appliances for the care of bric-à-brac and articles of virtu, and the balance had been expended in colors and canvases.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading Miss Joanna had been as good as her word.
a late time of life
From this reading THREE YEARS LATER.--THE RESULT.
