used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
absent-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
a feeling of delighted approval and liking
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
Cecilia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
d'Este
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
set up or found
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
Guido
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
for more time
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
by chance
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
undisguisedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪsˈɡaɪzd/
plain to see
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual, and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother.
precisely as stated
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
at the time that
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.
an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value
From this reading "It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with undisguised admiration.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
the day immediately before today
From this reading Yesterday she would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"
