used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
(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 It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
cholericadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːlərɪk/
easily moved to anger
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
recognizable; marked
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
argue or speak in defense of
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
delicatesse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
deviner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
discretionnounUS /dɪˈskreʃən/
freedom to act or judge on one's own
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
hotlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːtli/
in a heated manner
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/
past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
mandatesnounUS /ˈmændeɪts/
plural of “mandate” — a document giving an official instruction or command
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
come together
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
memenounUS /miːm/
a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
not any; not one
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
occupyingverbUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “occupy” — keep busy with
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
on one occasion
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
and nothing more
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
questionner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
To recall to mind.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
carry out
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
