used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
BalzacnounUS /bɑːlˈzæk/
French novelist; he portrays the complexity of 19th century French society (1799-1850)
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Certainly, Miss Orme; come in."
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Certainly, Miss Orme; come in."
communings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnfəˈdenʃəl/
entrusted with private information and the confidence of another
From this reading "Is your discourse confidential?
discoursenounUS /ˈdɪskɔːrs/
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
From this reading "Is your discourse confidential?
embroideringverbUS /emˈbrɔɪdərɪŋ/
-ing form of “embroider” — decorate with needlework
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Certainly, Miss Orme; come in."
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
interchangenounUS /ˌɪntərˈtʃeɪndʒ/
a junction of highways on different levels that permits traffic to move from one to another without crossing traffic streams
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is your discourse confidential?
go away from a place
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
loungeverbUS /laʊndʒ/
sit or recline comfortably
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
informal terms for a mother
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Certainly, Miss Orme; come in."
a particular point in time
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
Olga
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
and nothing more
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
Orme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Certainly, Miss Orme; come in."
Palma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
reclinedverbUS /rɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “recline” — move the upper body backwards and down
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
sashnounUS /sæʃ/
a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
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 Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
moved around an axis or center
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
which person or people
From this reading If so, I shall certainly retire, and leave you and mamma to tender communings, and an interchange of souls," said Olga, who reclined on a lounge in her mother's room, and slowly turned the leaves of a volume of Balzac.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. Palma looked up for an instant only from the blue sash which she was embroidering with silver.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Mrs. Palma, if you are at leisure, I should like to see you for a moment."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Is your discourse confidential?
