used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
apologeticallyadverbUS /əˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪkliː/
in an apologetic manner
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
contemplatedverbUS /ˈkɑːntəmpleɪtɪd/
past form of “contemplate” — look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
dismissverbUS /dɪˈsmɪs/
bar from attention or consideration
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
Frederic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
in a gradual manner
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
of great significance or value
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
not any; not one
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
Robert'snounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
possessive form of “robert” — United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
Vernon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
at the time that
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
the words that are spoken
From this reading She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt.
