used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
matters of personal concern
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
blushverbUS /blʌʃ/
turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
make calm or still
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
discoveringverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
one or the other of two
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
Emanuel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
at any time
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
generationnounUS /ˌdʒenərˈeɪʃən/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
Helen'snounUS /ˈhelɪnz/
possessive form of “helen” — (Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
hesitancynounUS /ˈhezɪtənsi/
a feeling of diffidence and indecision about doing something
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
ill-at-ease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
KNOTTING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
no person; not anyone
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
Nottingham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
Ollerenshaw's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
perspicuousadjective
(of language) transparently clear; easily understandable
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
preoccupiedadjectiveUS /priˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
deeply absorbed in thought
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
Prockter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
remedynounUS /ˈremədi/
act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
resentedverbUS /riˈzentɪd/
past form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
have in common
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
unusual or striking
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
stepson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It then became further obvious to the perspicuous Helen that Mrs. Prockter must have heard of her stepson's singular adventure, and either resented Helen's share in it, or was ashamed of Emanuel's share in it.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
UNKNOTTING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
vaguenessnounUS /ˈveɪɡnɪs/
unclearness by virtue of being poorly expressed or not coherent in meaning
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And Helen, though preoccupied herself by matters of the highest personal importance, did what she could to remedy a state of affairs so unusual.
at the time that
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Helen inquired as to the health of the sick relative at Nottingham, and received a reply in which vagueness was mingled with hesitancy and a blush.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Probably nobody, within the memory of that generation, had ever seen Mrs. Prockter ill-at-ease.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading UNKNOTTING AND KNOTTING When Mrs. Prockter arrived it was obvious to Helen, in spite of her wonderful calm upon discovering James Ollerenshaw's butler and page, that the lady was extremely ill-at-ease.
