used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
(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 table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
carefully weighed
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
devoidadjectiveUS /dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely wanting or lacking
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
inflected form of “eat” — take in solid food
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
essentialadjectiveUS /eˈsenʃəl/
absolutely necessary; vitally necessary
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
at any time
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE LIFE OF MISRULE.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
MISRULEnounUS /mɪsˈruːl/
government that is inefficient or dishonest
From this reading THE LIFE OF MISRULE.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
used to form the superlative
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LIFE OF MISRULE.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
recognitionnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
spoonsnounUS /spuːnz/
plural of “spoon” — a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container and a handle; used to stir or serve or take up food
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIFE OF MISRULE.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
Tredgold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Dinner went off better than the girls had expected.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The beautiful old silver spoons were dirty, and several of them bent almost out of recognition.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The table was devoid of all those things which she, as a refined lady, considered essential.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But to Miss Tredgold it was, and ever would be, the most awful meal she had eaten in the whole course of her existence.
