used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
balusternoun
one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
Barnet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading "M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
cause to be slowed down or delayed
From this reading "M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay.
DIDauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
one or the other of two
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
FLOSSIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
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 He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
lettairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
the literary culture
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
M'sieur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay.
a woman of refinement
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
a female domestic
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
meddleverbUS /ˈmedəl/
intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
a particular point in time
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
postmannounUS /ˈpoʊstmən/
a man who delivers the mail
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
puzzlingadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəlɪŋ/
not clear to the understanding
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
salvernoun
a tray (or large plate) for serving food or drinks; usually made of silver
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "M'sieur is curious, but he should not delay.
with low volume
From this reading The little French maid, peering over the baluster, laughed softly.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading The lettairs, it may be, of importance are, and the madam already waiting is."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading WHAT FLOSSIE DID In the great hall, at the Barnet house, the butler stood puzzling over the letters which the postman had left.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He dared not meddle with them, but he paused for a moment to study them as they lay upon his salver, while he wondered if the handwriting upon either envelope were in the least familiar.
