used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
alarmingadjectiveUS /əˈlɑːrmɪŋ/
frightening because of an awareness of danger
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/
a requirement of etiquette or custom
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
an instinctive motive
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
Ingram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
inwardlyadverbUS /ˈɪnwərdli/
with respect to private feelings
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
the sound of laughing
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
MorgannounUS /ˈmɔːrɡən/
United States anthropologist who studied the Seneca (1818-1881)
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
not any; not one
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
novelist's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
outwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/
with respect to the outside
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
symptomsnounUS /ˈsɪmptəmz/
plural of “symptom” — (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
Thiselton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The same evening, Morgan, not feeling any alarming symptoms, had to carry out his promise to join Lady Thiselton's little dinner party.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Helen had herself told him she had made the novelist's acquaintance, and to find him dining at her house was no matter for surprise.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
precisely as stated
From this reading He reflected, however, that, though the encounter was an unexpected one, there was nothing very astonishing about it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the impulse died away as with a start he perceived that Robert Ingram was in the drawing-room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She received him with a formality that made him laugh inwardly--and almost outwardly.
