used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
admirablyadverbUS /ˈædmərəbli/
in an admirable manner
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
equally
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Fishpingle gazed intently at the portrait of his mistress.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
BrigadenounUS /brəˈɡeɪd/
army unit smaller than a division
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
busiedverbUS /ˈbɪzid/
inflected form of “busy” — keep busy with
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
placed crosswise
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
Fishpingle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
framedadjectiveUS /freɪmd/
provided with a frame
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
framesnounUS /freɪmz/
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Fishpingle gazed intently at the portrait of his mistress.
Geoffrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading Fishpingle gazed intently at the portrait of his mistress.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
kitnounUS /kɪt/
a case for containing a set of articles
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
leathernounUS /ˈleðər/
an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
Lionel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
mantel-shelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Fishpingle gazed intently at the portrait of his mistress.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
photographsnounUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræfs/
plural of “photograph” — a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide or in digital format
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
Pomfretnoun
deep-bodied sooty-black pelagic spiny-finned fish of the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific; valued for food
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading Fishpingle gazed intently at the portrait of his mistress.
PrudencenounUS /ˈpruːdəns/
discretion in practical affairs
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
term of address for a man
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The butler lit a pipe, rose from his chair, and crossed to the fireplace.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading He thought it likely that Prudence might return, but she didn’t.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Upon the mantel-shelf, framed alike in handsome leather frames, stood three photographs—Sir Geoffrey, in hunting kit, which became him admirably, Lady Pomfret, and Lionel Pomfret in the uniform of the Rifle Brigade.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fishpingle sat down to his desk and busied himself with some papers.
