used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
Alicia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
any thing at all
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a feeling of craving something
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
betrayalsnounUS /bɪˈtreɪəlz/
plural of “betrayal” — an act of deliberate betrayal
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
charteredadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɑːrtərd/
hired for the exclusive temporary use of a group of travelers
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
convalescencenounUS /ˌkɑːnvəˈlesəns/
gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
corpulencenoun
the property of excessive fatness
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
demandsnounUS /dɪˈmændz/
plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
divisible by two
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
the organ of sight
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
set up or found
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
destroyed or killed
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
indicationsnounUS /ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “indication” — something that serves to indicate or suggest
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
invalidnounUS /ˈɪnvələd/
someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
khansamah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
libertiesnounUS /ˈlɪbərtiːz/
plural of “liberty” — immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
LindsaynounUS /ˈlɪndzi/
United States playwright who collaborated with Russel Crouse on several musicals (1889-1931)
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
LivingstonenounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋstoʊn/
Scottish missionary and explorer who discovered the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls (1813-1873)
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
engage in
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
newspapersnounUS /ˈnuːzpeɪpərz/
plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
not any; not one
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
on one occasion
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
opportunitiesnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnətiz/
plural of “opportunity” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
patternnounUS /ˈpætərn/
a perceptual structure
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
like better; value more highly
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
replacingnounUS /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/
the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
sugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
suggestiveadjectiveUS /səˈdʒestɪv/
tending to suggest or imply
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
Surgeon-Major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
carry out
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
tendencynounUS /ˈtendənsi/
an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There had been opportunities--even the day nurse had gone and Lindsay came to tea in the drawing-room--but he seemed to prefer to talk about the pattern in the carpet, or the corpulence of the khansamah, or things in the newspapers.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading An appetite to cry out upon, a chartered tendency to take small liberties, to make small demands; such indications offered themselves to the eye that looked for other betrayals.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Alicia once, at a suggestive point, put almost a visible question into a silent glance, and Lindsay asked her for some more sugar.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading Surgeon-Major Livingstone, coming into his office unexpectedly one morning, found his sister in the act of replacing a volume upon its professional shelf.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For three days there had certainly been, with the invalid, no sign of anything but convalescence.