used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
Adele
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
arm-chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
brocadenounUS /broʊˈkeɪd/
thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
comelyadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmli/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
daughter'snounUS /ˈdɔːtərz/
possessive form of “daughter” — a female human offspring
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
exemptverbUS /ɪɡˈzempt/
grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
fair-hairedadjective
favorite
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
a young female
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
guidesnounUS /ɡaɪdz/
plural of “guide” — someone employed to conduct others
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
hoardverbUS /hɔːrd/
save up as for future use
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
laceverbUS /leɪs/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
LESSONSnounUS /ˈlesənz/
plural of “lesson” — a unit of instruction
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
take the midday meal
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
magnificencenoun
splendid or imposing in size or appearance
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
maximsnounUS /ˈmæksəmz/
plural of “maxim” — a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
obsequiousadjectiveUS /əbˈsiːkwiəs/
attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
preachingnounUS /ˈpriːtʃɪŋ/
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
speakernounUS /ˈspiːkər/
someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading At the sound of her mother's voice she looked up.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading A substantial lunch was on the table, an obsequious butler was in waiting, a fair-haired girl was seated in one of the arm-chairs, her head resting on her hand.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
which person or people
From this reading The speaker was a comely, elderly lady who had sailed, in the full magnificence of brocade and lace, into the dining-room of her handsome house.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
WORLD-WISDOM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _LESSONS IN WORLD-WISDOM._ With a little hoard of maxims preaching down a daughter's heart; They were dangerous guides, the feelings: she herself was not exempt.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, Adele, what have you done with Arthur?"
