used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
abusesnounUS /əˈbjuːsɪz/
plural of “abuse” — cruel or inhumane treatment
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
attendantsnounUS /əˈtendənts/
plural of “attendant” — someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
betook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
cause to be bored
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
plural of “call” — a telephone connection
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
Ch'un
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
Ch'un's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
Chia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
Erh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
eventuallyadverbUS /ɪˈventʃəwəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
a social unit living together
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
Feng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
incomenounUS /ˈɪnkʌm/
the financial gain (earned or unearned) accruing over a given period of time
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
increasesnounUS /ɪnˈkriːsəz/
plural of “increase” — a quantity that is added
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
located inward
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
intactadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtækt/
constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
long-standingadjective
having existed for a long time
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
matronsnounUS /ˈmeɪtrənz/
plural of “matron” — a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
be obedient to
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
P'ing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
Pao-ch'ai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
select carefully from a group
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
preservesnounUS /prəˈzɜːrvz/
fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
housing available for people to live in
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
removesnounUS /riˈmuːvz/
plural of “remove” — degree of figurative distance or separation
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
rinsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
T'an
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The clever T'an Ch'un increases their income and removes long-standing abuses.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But let us pick up the clue of our story.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
washedadjectiveUS /wɑːʃt/
clean by virtue of having been washed in water
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
in or at the place that
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading P'ing Erh bore lady Feng company during her meal; then attending to her, while she rinsed her mouth and washed her hands, she betook herself eventually to T'an Ch'un's quarters, where she discovered the courtyard in perfect stillness.
which person or people
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Not a soul was about beyond several maids, matrons and close attendants of the inner rooms, who stood outside the windows on the alert to obey any calls.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading The worthy Pao-ch'ai preserves intact, by the display of a little intelligence, the great reputation enjoyed by the Chia family.
