used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
anew
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
ballroomnounUS /ˈbɔːlruːm/
large room used mainly for dancing
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
butler'snounUS /ˈbʌtlərz/
possessive form of “butler” — a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
cellos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
cornetnounUS /kɔːrˈnet/
a brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone; has a narrow tube and a flared bell and is played by means of valves
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
disconsolateadjective
sad beyond comforting; incapable of being consoled
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
DublinnounUS /ˈdʌblɪn/
capital and largest city and major port of the Irish Republic
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
at any time
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
fiddlesnounUS /ˈfɪdəlz/
plural of “fiddle” — bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
fillsnounUS /fɪlz/
plural of “fill” — a quantity sufficient to satisfy
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
instrumentsnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənts/
plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
undertake a journey or trip
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
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 Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
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 they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
used to form the superlative
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
by chance
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
playersnounUS /ˈpleɪərz/
plural of “player” — a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading "Nature has sometimes made a fool."
squeakingadjectiveUS /ˈskwiːkɪŋ/
having or making a high-pitched sound such as that made by a mouse or a rusty hinge
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
tunedverbUS /tuːnd/
past form of “tune” — adjust for (better) functioning
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
unearthlyadjectiveUS /əˈnɜːrθli/
concerned with or affecting the spirit or soul
From this reading Such unearthly noises rarely, if ever, have been heard in it before.
ungodlyadjectiveUS /ənˈɡɔːdli/
characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
untuned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The fiddles are squeaking, the 'cellos are groaning, the man with the cornet is making a most ungodly row.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
From this reading Why they couldn't have tuned their instruments before coming is a question that fills the butler's mind with wrath, but perhaps the long journey down from Dublin would have untuned them all again, and left the players of them disconsolate.
but in spite of that
From this reading As yet, the band have the ballroom all to themselves, and are certainly making the most of their time.
