used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
composedlyadverb
in a self-collected or self-possessed manner
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
courtlinessnoun
elegance suggestive of a royal court
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading She directed him to a seat.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
Duchesse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
dérange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Je vous dérange_.”
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
divisible by two
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
flatteredverbUS /ˈflætərd/
past form of “flatter” — praise somewhat dishonestly
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
forbadeverbUS /fərˈbeɪd/
inflected form of “forbid” — command against
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
friendlinessnounUS /ˈfrendlinɪs/
a feeling of liking for another person; enjoyment in their company
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
Je
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Je vous dérange_.”
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
maturedadjectiveUS /məˈtjʊrd/
fully ripe; at the height of bloom
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
pardonsnounUS /ˈpɑːrdənz/
plural of “pardon” — the act of excusing a mistake or offense
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
positivelyadverbUS /ˈpɑːzətɪvli/
extremely
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading She directed him to a seat.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
having a supporting base
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading “A thousand pardons, Madame la Duchesse,” he said, standing in the doorway.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
vous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “_Je vous dérange_.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no drawing back; the circumstances positively forbade it, even if a certain smile following fast upon the momentary embarrassment of the Duchess had not prompted him to put himself at her mercy.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She rose from her chair composedly, a figure of matured grace and practised courtliness, and above all with an air of what he flattered himself was friendliness.
