used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
afternoonsnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːnz/
plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
anew
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
(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 She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
in addition
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
eagerly desirous
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
dearly loved
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
CommencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
diameternounUS /daɪˈæmətər/
the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
DUETnounUS /duːˈet/
two items of the same kind
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
Eleanor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
fingeringnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the placement of the fingers for playing different notes (or sequences of notes) on a musical instrument
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
gildingnounUS /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/
a coating of gold or of something that looks like gold
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
highest in quality
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
lilynounUS /ˈlɪli/
any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
ListernounUS /ˈlɪstər/
English surgeon who was the first to use antiseptics (1827-1912)
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/
the second day of the week; the first working day
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
mordent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
painstakingadjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnsteɪkɪŋ/
characterized by extreme care and great effort
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
practicedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktəst/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
pupilnounUS /ˈpjuːpəl/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
shadingsnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋz/
plural of “shading” — graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
Thomasina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
ThursdaynounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
trillnounUS /trɪl/
a note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
From this reading Never was there such gilding of the lily, such painstaking practice of trill and mordent.
TuesdaynounUS /ˈtuːzdi/
the third day of the week; the second working day
From this reading He played with her also on Friday and Saturday and again on Monday and Tuesday.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
at the time that
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
which person or people
From this reading In the mornings he played with Thomasina, who was certain that she had never seen her beloved pupil so anxious for perfection.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A DUET AND WHAT CAME OF IT Richard Lister played with Eleanor Bent for the first time on the afternoon of Commencement Day, which was Thursday.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would have opened her brown eyes to their greatest possible diameter could she have known that what he practiced with her in the mornings he played with Eleanor Bent in the afternoons, when he displayed all the fine shadings of expression, all the tricks of fingering which he had learned from her.
