used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
absentadjectiveUS /ˈæbsənt/
not being in a specified place
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
a cherished desire
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
Burney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
detainverbUS /dɪˈteɪn/
deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
give expression to
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
FannynounUS /ˈfæni/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
Fanny's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
favoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
set up or found
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
Gabrielli
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
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 He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
engage in
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
melodynounUS /ˈmelədi/
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
a particular point in time
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
approval to do something
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
phrasenounUS /freɪz/
an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
pillarnounUS /ˈpɪlər/
a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
poseverbUS /poʊz/
introduce
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading He promised not to be long absent, and Fanny had not the heart to detain him.
Rauzzini
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
that is looked for
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
not in physical motion
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
carry out
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Edward Burney thought that the moment was one that favoured his ambition to study the pose of Madame Gabrielli, with a view to starting on a portrait that should make him famous.
at the time that
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
in the company of; together with
From this reading |THEY spoke in French, with an occasional phrase in Italian when they found the other tongue lacking in melody or in the exact shade of meaning that they sought to express.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading He asked Fanny's permission to allow him to take up a place a few yards beyond the pillar.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You fled from me--was that kind?” asked Rauzzini when the cousin had moved away, but was still in view.
