used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
the state of being absent
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
bondagenounUS /ˈbɑːndɪdʒ/
the state of being under the control of a force or influence or abstract power
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
the act of departing
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
DoomverbUS /duːm/
decree or designate beforehand
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
errandsnounUS /ˈerəndz/
plural of “errand” — a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
divisible by two
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
favouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
set up or found
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Petullo was from home.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
happiestadjectiveUS /ˈhæpiəst/
superlative of “happy” — enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Petullo was from home.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
intolerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɑːlərəbəl/
incapable of being tolerated or endured
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
jeopardies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
immediately past
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
menacedverbUS /ˈmenəst/
past form of “menace” — pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
Olivia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
Petullo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Petullo was from home.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
remnantnounUS /ˈremnənt/
a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
respitenounUS /ˈrespɪt/
a (temporary) relief from harm or discomfort
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
precisely, exactly
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
only a very short time before
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
skaithless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
surrendernounUS /sərˈendər/
acceptance of despair
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was in such circumstances she found the bondage least intolerable.
a special situation
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant respite; it gave her an opportunity of warning Doom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Petullo was from home.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the first day of favouring weather; it was to surrender the last remnant of his right to the home of his ancestors.
at the time that
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
belonging to which person
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had scarce made up her mind how he should be informed of the jeopardies that menaced his guest, whose skaithless departure with Olivia was even, from her point of view, a thing wholly desirable, when the Baron appeared himself.
