used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A STARTLING SUGGESTION.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
lacking funds
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
cloak-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
a boy or man
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
Forbes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
Jennings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
immediately past
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
a particular point in time
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
saleswomennounUS /ˈseɪlzwɪmən/
plural of “saleswoman” — a woman salesperson
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
express in words
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She looked around for Miss Jennings, but did not see her.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading A STARTLING SUGGESTION.
an idea that is suggested
From this reading A STARTLING SUGGESTION.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The next moment her attention was attracted by a short conversation between two of the saleswomen.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, Jack Forbes is dead at last, poor fellow," said one of them, "and they say that his father is all broke up over it.
at the time that
From this reading The gossip in the cloak-room was at its height the next morning when Faith entered promptly at half-past seven.
