used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
abnormallyadverbUS /æbˈnɔːrməli/
in an abnormal manner
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
borderedadjectiveUS /ˈbɔːrdərd/
having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term
From this reading The idea bordered on the monstrous.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
co-ordination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
conjuror's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
power to direct or determine
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
willing to give and share unstintingly
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
guidedadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdəd/
subject to guidance or control especially after launching
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The idea bordered on the monstrous.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
magicallyadverbUS /ˈmædʒɪkəli/
in a magical manner
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
mesmericadjective
attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
minutelyadverbUS /ˈmɪnətli/
in minute detail
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
monstrousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːnstrəs/
abnormally large
From this reading The idea bordered on the monstrous.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The idea bordered on the monstrous.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
performingnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
Roger'snounUS /ˈrɑːdʒərz/
possessive form of “rogers” — United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
express in words
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
serving-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
specifiedadjectiveUS /ˈspesəfaɪd/
clearly and explicitly stated
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
tricksnounUS /trɪks/
plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading So abnormally exquisite was the co-ordination between the two, that Roger seemed to have the man under mesmeric control.
unerringlyadverb
without making errors
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
vegetablesnounUS /ˈvedʒtəbəlz/
plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
wagenounUS /weɪdʒ/
something that remunerates
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her reason told her that the Chinese servant was but an ordinary serving-man, performing minutely specified duties for a generous wage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the duties were performed magically, like conjuror's tricks.
which person or people
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading It was practically impossible to say who cut up Roger's meat, who helped him to salt or to vegetables, who guided his hand unerringly to the wine glass.
