used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
having companions or an escort
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
admirableadjectiveUS /ˈædmərəbəl/
deserving of the highest esteem or admiration
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
affectionateadjectiveUS /əˈfekʃənət/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading Jim received a most affectionate greeting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
Apsley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
Bryant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
DEVELOPMENTnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
being one more than ten
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading She gave a little exclamation.
familiaritynounUS /fəˌmɪˈljerəti/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She gave a little exclamation.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Jim received a most affectionate greeting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
a man skilled in equitation
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The horseman was unmistakably Jim Lascelles.
Lascelles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The horseman was unmistakably Jim Lascelles.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Jim received a most affectionate greeting.
a form of address for a man
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
PerrynounUS /ˈperi/
United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
Perry'snounUS /ˈperiz/
possessive form of “perry” — United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Jim received a most affectionate greeting.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She gave a little exclamation.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
unexpectednessnoun
extraordinariness by virtue of being unexpected
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
unmistakablyadverbUS /ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbli/
without possibility of mistake
From this reading The horseman was unmistakably Jim Lascelles.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
at the time that
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It had a combination of unexpectedness and familiarity which fixed Miss Perry’s attention.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEMALE US The next morning, a little before eleven, the wonderful Miss Perry, accompanied by the admirable Mr. Bryant, was approaching Apsley House when the figure of a solitary horseman was to be seen.
