used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING INCIDENT.
advantagesnounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
appreciatedadjectiveUS /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/
fully understood or grasped
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
Basil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
recognizable; marked
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
expensenounUS /ɪkˈspens/
amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
GenevanounUS /dʒəˈniːvə/
a city in southwestern Switzerland at the western end of Lake Geneva; it is the headquarters of various international organizations
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
Harcourt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
a single distinct event
From this reading A STARTLING INCIDENT.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
immediately past
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
lavishedverbUS /ˈlævɪʃt/
past form of “lavish” — expend profusely; also used with abstract nouns
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
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 He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
get by special effort
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING INCIDENT.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
teachersnounUS /ˈtiːtʃərz/
plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
which person or people
From this reading She engaged teachers for Ben, who devoted several hours daily to study.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading He sometimes asked himself why Mrs. Harcourt lavished so much expense upon him, and, indeed, why she cared to have him with her; for though always kind, she never showed any affection for him.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
Wrayburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He fully appreciated the advantages which he had been unable to secure in Wrayburn, and not knowing how long they might last, made the most of them.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading Though Mrs. Harcourt could have gone back to Paris with safety after Basil’s return to New York, she decided to remain in Geneva, and did so through the winter.
