used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
acquiescedverbUS /ˌækwiˈest/
past form of “acquiesce” — to agree or express agreement
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
(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 And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
Ayahnoun
(in India) a native nursemaid who looks after children
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
BEST-LAID
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
BombaynounUS /bɑːmˈbeɪ/
a city in western India just off the coast of the Arabian Sea; India's 2nd largest city (after Calcutta); has the only natural deep-water harbor in western India
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
campaignernounUS /kæmˈpeɪnər/
a politician who is running for public office
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
clothing in general
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
extraordinarilyadverbUS /ekˌstrɔːrdəˈnerəli/
extremely
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
a social unit living together
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
set up or found
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
interviewedverbUS /ˈɪntərvjuːd/
past form of “interview” — conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
JannounUS /dʒæn/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
go away from a place
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
march in a procession
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
very unhappy; full of misery
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
many times at short intervals
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
philosophicadjectiveUS /ˌfɪləˈsɑːfɪk/
of or relating to philosophy or philosophers
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
on the contrary
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
SCHEMESnounUS /skiːmz/
plural of “scheme” — an elaborate and systematic plan of action
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
showing reason or sound judgment
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
a particular situation
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
stockingsnounUS /ˈstɑːkɪŋz/
plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
carry out
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading Before she left Jan interviewed her new mistress and found her kind and sensible, and an old campaigner who had made the voyage innumerable times.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading March was a cold month, and she was often rather miserable, in spite of her pride in her shoes and stockings and the warm clothes Jan had provided for her.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
which person or people
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And she, though sorry to leave Jan and the children, acquiesced in all arrangements made for her with the philosophic patience of the East.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading "THE BEST-LAID SCHEMES" Peter had been as good as his word, and had found a family returning to India who were glad to take Ayah back to Bombay.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading It certainly occurred to Jan that Peter had been extraordinarily quick in making this arrangement, but she concluded that he had written on the subject before they left India.
