used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
Alistair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
BernardnounUS /bərˈnɑːrd/
French physiologist noted for research on secretions of the alimentary canal and the glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
developmentnounUS /dɪˈveləpmənt/
act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
every person
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
set up or found
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
goodwillnounUS /ˈɡʊˈdwɪl/
(accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
Hero'snounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
possessive form of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
LAMPSnounUS /læmps/
plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
motivesnounUS /ˈmoʊtɪvz/
plural of “motive” — the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
filled with bewilderment
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
term of address for a man
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
a special situation
From this reading NEW LAMPS FOR OLD DURING the next few days a thing happened that surprised everyone.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
in the direction of
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
unmixedadjectiveUS /ənˈmɪkst/
not mixed with extraneous elements
From this reading To the Duchess the development did not bring unmixed satisfaction.
Vanbrughnoun
English architect (1664-1726)
From this reading Sir Bernard Vanbrugh and Lord Alistair became great friends.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Alistair had motives that were plain enough to three members of the little party for his goodwill towards Hero’s father.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But it puzzled the two women to account for the pleasure which Sir Bernard evidently found in the society of the young man.
