used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
bald-headedadjective
lacking hair on all or most of the scalp
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
BUNDLEnounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
bushyadjectiveUS /ˈbʊʃi/
used of hair; thick and poorly groomed
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
coachmannounUS /ˈkoʊtʃmən/
a man who drives a coach (or carriage)
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But that did not matter.
DuncannounUS /ˈdʌŋkən/
United States dancer and pioneer of modern dance (1878-1927)
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
entrustverbUS /enˈtrʌst/
confer a trust upon
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
exceptionnounUS /ɪkˈsepʃən/
a deliberate act of omission
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
gardenernounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənər/
someone who takes care of a garden
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
harnessverbUS /ˈhɑːrnəs/
put a harness
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
harness-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
of great significance or value
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But that did not matter.
Merrick's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
used to form the superlative
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
MuirnounUS /mjʊr/
United States naturalist (born in England) who advocated the creation of national parks (1838-1914)
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
oilingverbUS /ˈɔɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “oil” — cover with oil, as if by rubbing
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
polishingnounUS /ˈpɑːlɪʃɪŋ/
the work of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing or waxing it
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
side-whiskersnoun
facial hair that has grown down the side of a man's face in front of the ears (especially when the rest of the beard is shaved off)
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading In the harness-room above the stable sat Duncan Muir, the coachman and most important servant, with the exception of the head gardener, in Miss Merrick's establishment.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
subordinateadjectiveUS /səˈbɔːrdəneɪt/
lower in rank or importance
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But that did not matter.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
a Caucasian
From this reading Duncan, bald-headed but with white and bushy side-whiskers, was engaged in the serious business of oiling and polishing the state harness, which had not been used for many months past.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MAN WITH THE BUNDLE.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Thursday was the day for oiling the harness, and so on Thursday he performed the task, never daring to entrust a work so important to a subordinate.
