in actual fact
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
Azuba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
DanielnounUS /ˈdænjəl/
(Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/
plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading “Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena.
gottenverbUS /ˈɡɑːtən/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena.
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
knivesnounUS /naɪvz/
plural of “knife” — edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
pridedverbUS /ˈpraɪdɪd/
past form of “pride” — be proud of
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
Serena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading “Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she,” observed Serena.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
in or at that place or location
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was setting the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and forks and singing, actually singing.
a special situation
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was past dinner time, but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper prided herself, it was in being “prompt at meal times.”
