used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I think I know everything,” answered Bride softly.
appreciableadjectiveUS /əˈpriːʃəbəl/
enough to be estimated or measured
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
weapons considered collectively
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
BRIDE'SnounUS /braɪdz/
possessive form of “bride” — a woman who has recently been married
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
a young person of either sex
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
dearly loved
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
Duke'snounUS /duːks/
possessive form of “duke” — a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
Eustace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
all things; all of a situation
From this reading “I think I know everything,” answered Bride softly.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I think I know everything,” answered Bride softly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
looselyadverbUS /ˈluːsli/
in a relaxed manner; not rigid
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
take in marriage
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
a particular point in time
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading “My dear child,” he said, after an appreciable pause, “do you mean that you do not know?”
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
PROPOSALnounUS /prəˈpoʊzəl/
something proposed (such as a plan or assumption)
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
with low volume
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
having a supporting base
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
not in physical motion
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “I think I know everything,” answered Bride softly.
precisely as stated
From this reading The Duke gave a very slight start, and then sat perfectly still.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not see Bride’s face, and he was glad for a moment that his own could not be seen.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading _BRIDE’S PROPOSAL_ “Papa,” said Bride softly, coming into the Duke’s study and standing behind his chair with her arms loosely clasped about his neck, “will you let me marry Eustace now?”
