used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
bookcasenounUS /ˈbʊkkeɪs/
a piece of furniture with shelves for storing books
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was in readiness.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Everything was in readiness.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Not if he is like the Vicar," I replied.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
nervousnessnounUS /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
PattynounUS /ˈpæti/
small flat mass of chopped food
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading Everything was in readiness.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Not if he is like the Vicar," I replied.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/
plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
VicarnounUS /ˈvɪkər/
a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman
From this reading "Not if he is like the Vicar," I replied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everything was in readiness.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
at the time that
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE FIRST ARRIVAL WHEN Thursday came I could see that Aunt Patty looked forward with some nervousness to the arrival of her guest.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Professor would be hard to please if he did not like the pleasant room, to which aunt had added a bookcase and a writing-table, and contrived to give quite the appearance of a sitting-room.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Will he care for any flowers, do you think, Nan?" aunt asked, as we put the finishing touches to its arrangement.
