used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "An opera song!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
BachnounUS /bɑːk/
German baroque organist and contrapuntist; composed mostly keyboard music; one of the greatest creators of western music (1685-1750)
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then she began to sing.
boastverbUS /boʊst/
show off
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
cat-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
corridornounUS /ˈkɔːrədər/
an enclosed passageway; rooms usually open onto it
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
dowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/
a widow holding property received from her deceased husband
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
finishingnounUS /ˈfɪnɪʃɪŋ/
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
fuguenounUS /fjuːɡ/
dissociative disorder in which a person forgets who they are and leaves home to create a new life; during the fugue there is no memory of the former life; after recovering there is no memory for events during the dissociative state
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
gemnounUS /dʒem/
art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
Iolanthe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
LancasternounUS /ˈlænkæstər/
a city in northwestern England
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
Leonora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
morceaunoun
a short literary or musical composition
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
operanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading "An opera song!
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
having or expressing strong emotions
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
deliver by singing
From this reading Then she began to sing.
a short musical composition with words
From this reading "An opera song!
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
sungnounUS /sʌŋ/
the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then she played a little _morceau_ from Bach.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then she began to sing.
toiletnounUS /ˈtɔɪlət/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
on a floor above
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Lady Lancaster was finishing her toilet upstairs, Leonora finished her fugue in the drawing-room.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
the words that are spoken
From this reading The dowager, coming along the corridor outside with stealthy, cat-like steps, was amazed to catch the passionate words of a little gem from "Iolanthe," sung in a voice as sweet and clear and well trained as many a professional could boast.
