used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
move forward, also in the metaphorical sense
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
BaronetnounUS /ˈberənət/
a member of the British order of honor; ranks below a baron but above a knight
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
of surpassing excellence
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
coloursnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a distinguishing emblem
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
craftyadjectiveUS /ˈkræfti/
marked by skill in deception
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
crimsonadjectiveUS /ˈkrɪmzən/
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
crême
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
decoratedadjectiveUS /ˈdekəreɪtɪd/
provided with something intended to increase its beauty or distinction
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
one or the other of two
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
a long fixed look
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
coins made of gold
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrti/
showing warm and heartfelt friendliness
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
HomburgnounUS /ˈhɑːmbərɡ/
a hat made of felt with a creased crown
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
hostelrynoun
a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
jewelsnounUS /ˈdʒuːəlz/
plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
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 A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
characterized by grandeur
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
a female domestic
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
Malcolm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
menunounUS /ˈmenjuː/
a list of dishes available at a restaurant
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
not any; not one
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
opportunitiesnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnətiz/
plural of “opportunity” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
primaryadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪmeri/
of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
prodigiouslyadverbUS /proʊˈdɪdʒɪsli/
to a prodigious degree
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
realisedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
repressedadjectiveUS /riˈprest/
characterized by or showing the suppression of impulses or emotions
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
Ritter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
except for; apart from
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
schemesnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
screenedverbUS /skriːnd/
past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
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 A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
term of address for a man
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/
with sternness; in a severe manner
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
strong-willedadjective
having a determined will
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/
sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
titledadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪtəld/
belonging to the peerage
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
touchesnounUS /ˈtʌtʃəz/
plural of “touch” — the event of something coming in contact with the body
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
unwholesomeadjective
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
From this reading The hostess was supported by a titled guest on either hand, ate a hearty (and extremely unwholesome) meal, and enjoyed herself prodigiously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The menu was everything that a Homburg menu could, and should, be; the company were _crême de la crême_; but the crafty Baronet realised that this kind of entertainment afforded no opportunities to advance his schemes.
a flaw or weak point
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
(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 He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
at the time that
From this reading The dinner at Ritter's proved a brilliant affair, but Sir Horace experienced an unexpected disappointment, when he discovered that instead of being a guest at a pleasant little informal meal, he and his nephew were two in a party of thirty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A long table, carefully screened from public gaze, was decorated with a profusion of roses and silver; the company were smart, and Madame herself was magnificent in black and gold, with touches of crimson--her natural taste was for the primary colours, and many jewels, but this weakness was sternly repressed by a strong-willed French maid.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He and Malcolm might as well have dined at their own hostelry--save that in that case, they would have been obliged to pay for their food.
