used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
decreedadjectiveUS /dɪˈkriːd/
fixed or established especially by order or command
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
well in the past; former
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
Duchessa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
dulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
to an extreme degree
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
extraordinarilyadverbUS /ekˌstrɔːrdəˈnerəli/
extremely
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading Trix was playing the game of "I remember."
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Trix was playing the game of "I remember."
inflictverbUS /ˌɪnˈflɪkt/
impose something unpleasant
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
MOORLANDnounUS /ˈmʊrlænd/
open land usually with peaty soil covered with heather and bracken and moss
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Trix was playing the game of "I remember."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Trix was playing the game of "I remember."
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It can be a quite extraordinarily fascinating game, or an exceedingly painful one.
To recall to mind.
From this reading Trix was playing the game of "I remember."
Identical; not different.
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
Tibbutt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
Trix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
unnecessaryadjectiveUS /ənˈnesəseri/
not necessary
From this reading It had been decreed that it was entirely unnecessary to inflict the same probable dulness on Trix, therefore she had been left to freedom and her own devices for the afternoon.
close enough to be walked to
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE MOORLAND Trix was walking over the moorland.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The Duchessa and Miss Tibbutt had departed to what promised to be an exceedingly dull garden party some five miles distant.
