used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
matters of personal concern
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
have
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
Boucher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
Boucher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
intentionally conceived
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
carefully weighed
From this reading Madame had considered this, and him, and had smiled.
approval
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
put on clothes
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
fabricsnounUS /ˈfæbrɪks/
plural of “fabric” — artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
Harboro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
hatsnounUS /hæts/
plural of “hat” — headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Madame had considered this, and him, and had smiled.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
libertiesnounUS /ˈlɪbərtiːz/
plural of “liberty” — immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
madame's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
engage in
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
millinerynoun
shop selling women's hats
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
music-racks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
and nothing more
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
by chance
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Madame had considered this, and him, and had smiled.
sparedverbUS /sperd/
past form of “spare” — refrain from harming
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Madame had considered this, and him, and had smiled.
very small
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Mrs. Harboro was to be shown only the best fabrics, he told her; and no pains were to be spared to make a dress which would be a credit to madame's establishment.
toy-shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
uncomfortablyadverbUS /ənˈkʌmfərtəbli/
in physical discomfort
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
unfinishedadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/
in a vague way
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
at the time that
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was uncomfortably, if vaguely, conscious of the presence of many hats, displayed on affairs which were like unfinished music-racks.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He had given Madame Boucher certain instructions--or perhaps liberties would be a better word.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Harboro would have made you think of a bear in a toy-shop when he sat down in the tiny front room of Madame Boucher's millinery establishment.
