used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
ajaradjectiveUS /əˈdʒɑːr/
slightly open
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
architectnounUS /ˈɑːrkətekt/
someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
backgroundnounUS /ˈbækɡraʊnd/
a person's social heritage: previous experience or training
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
BeatricenounUS /ˈbiːətrəs/
the woman who guided Dante through Paradise in the Divine Comedy
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
opinion or judgment
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
FaulknernounUS /ˈfɔːknər/
United States novelist (originally Falkner) who wrote about people in the southern United States (1897-1962)
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
Faulkner'snounUS /ˈfɔːknərz/
possessive form of “faulkner” — United States novelist (originally Falkner) who wrote about people in the southern United States (1897-1962)
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
finestadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪnəst/
superlative of “fine” — being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
footfallnounUS /ˈfʊtfɔːl/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
footmannounUS /ˈfʊtmən/
a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
footman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
a long fixed look
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
indooradjectiveUS /ˈɪndɔːr/
located, suited for, or taking place within a building
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
and nothing more
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
a particular point in time
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
not any; not one
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
noblyadverbUS /ˈnɑːbli/
in a noble manner
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
many times at short intervals
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
peeringverbUS /ˈpiːrɪŋ/
-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
by chance
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
proportionedverbUS /prəˈpɔːrʃənd/
past form of “proportion” — give pleasant proportions to
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
not used up
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
having a supporting base
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
not in physical motion
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
precisely as stated
From this reading He might not have heard her soft footfall, but he surely had no business to be peering in at a door very slightly ajar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Beatrice Faulkner paused a moment, on her way down the great staircase, to gaze curiously at the footman in the lower hall.
at the time that
From this reading She descended the few remaining steps, her eyes still fixed on the astonishing sight of a footman's back, when he should have been standing at attention.
which person or people
From this reading Faulkner's Folly was the realised dream of the architect who had been its original owner.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A perfectly designed and nobly proportioned staircase is perhaps the finest indoor background for a beautiful woman, but though Mrs. Faulkner had often taken advantage of this knowledge, there was no such thought in her mind just now.
