used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
(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 In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
any person at all
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The bankers showed her particular attention.
bankersnounUS /ˈbæŋkərz/
plural of “banker” — a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
basinsnounUS /ˈbeɪsənz/
plural of “basin” — a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
centraliseverb
make central
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
contrivedadjectiveUS /kənˈtraɪvd/
showing effects of planning or manipulation
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
courtsnounUS /kɔːrts/
plural of “court” — an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
derivedadjectiveUS /dərˈaɪvd/
formed or developed from something else; not original
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
detailedadjectiveUS /dɪˈteɪld/
developed or executed with care and in minute detail
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
diplomatists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
embassiesnounUS /ˈembəsiz/
plural of “embassy” — a diplomatic building where ambassadors live or work
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
divisible by two
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
governmentaladjectiveUS /ˈɡʌvərmentəl/
relating to or dealing with the affairs or structure of government or politics or the state
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
a message received and understood
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
litternounUS /ˈlɪtər/
the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
information about recent and important events
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
obtainingverbUS /əbˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading The bankers showed her particular attention.
an amount of time
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
pulsations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
reportsnounUS /rɪˈpɔːrts/
plural of “report” — a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The bankers showed her particular attention.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
confined on all sides
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In her dressing-room, amidst a litter of dirty basins, she contrived to centralise the policy of all the courts of Europe.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
which person or people
From this reading As a natural consequence she was surrounded by a court of bankers, and diplomatists, and friends, who came to her in the hope of obtaining information.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She received information, even detailed reports, in which the slightest pulsations of governmental life were carefully noted, before the embassies did, and without anyone knowing whence her news was derived.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading This was a real period of power for the young woman.
![His Excellency [Son Exc. Eugène Rougon]](/static/images/covers-gen/his-excellency-son-exc-eugene-rougon.academy.webp)