used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
how long something has existed
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
chattedverbUS /ˈtʃætəd/
inflected form of “chat” — talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/
plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
move gently or carefully
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
elaboratelyadverbUS /ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
embroideredverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərd/
past form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
holdersnounUS /ˈhoʊldərz/
plural of “holder” — a holding device
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
set down according to a plan
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
set afire or burning
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
mansionnounUS /ˈmænʃən/
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
MissesnounUS /ˈmɪsəz/
plural of “miss” — a young female
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
pewternounUS /ˈpjuːtər/
any of various alloys of tin with small amounts of other metals (especially lead)
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
pleasantlyadverbUS /ˈplezəntli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
on the contrary
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
tableclothnounUS /ˈteɪbəlklɔːθ/
a covering spread over a dining table
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
tensionnounUS /ˈtenʃən/
(psychology) a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two tall candles in pewter holders lighted the room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but on this evening the tension was somewhat relaxed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dishes, the cut glass, and the silver were of the best.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Misses Gates chatted pleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
yellowedadjective
changed to a yellowish color by age
From this reading The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, of good quality but slightly yellowed with age.
