used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
admirersnounUS /ədˈmaɪrərz/
plural of “admirer” — a person who backs a politician or a team etc.
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
(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 The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
arrangingnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒɪŋ/
the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
Blanchet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
a young person of either sex
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
dancesnounUS /ˈdænsəz/
plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
François
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
the act of departing
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Her heart was so good that she pitied them greatly.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading Her heart was so good that she pitied them greatly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading Her heart was so good that she pitied them greatly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
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 The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
Madeleine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
magpienounUS /ˈmæɡpaɪ/
long-tailed black-and-white crow that utters a raucous chattering call
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
Mariette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
MillernounUS /ˈmɪlər/
United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
not able to be found
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
pitiedverbUS /ˈpɪtiːd/
inflected form of “pity” — share the suffering of
From this reading Her heart was so good that she pitied them greatly.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
cut with a saw
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
spannounUS /spæn/
the complete duration of something
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
spicknoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Her heart was so good that she pitied them greatly.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "How is this?" said she, as she saw François arranging the papers in Madeleine's room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
precisely as stated
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
at the time that
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
a Caucasian
From this reading IT was already broad daylight when Mariette Blanchet emerged from her nest, carefully attired in her mourning, which was so very black and so very white that she looked as spick and span as a little magpie.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The poor child had one great care, and that was that her mourning would long prevent her going to dances, and that all her admirers would be missing her.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You attend to everything here, Master Miller!
