used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
advisernounUS /ædˈvaɪzər/
an expert who gives advice
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
(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 I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
annoyingadjectiveUS /əˈnɔɪɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
the verbal act of requesting
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
any cognitive content held as true
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
a youthful male person
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
bête
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
compressingnounUS /kəmˈpresɪŋ/
applying pressure
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːnfəˈdenʃəl/
entrusted with private information and the confidence of another
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
disregardingadverbUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
drawbacksnounUS /ˈdrɔːbæks/
plural of “drawback” — the quality of being a hindrance
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
a social unit living together
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
an established custom
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
Magnus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
easily agitated
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
not any; not one
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
noire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
a human being
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
reluctancenounUS /rɪˈlʌktəns/
(physics) opposition to magnetic flux (analogous to electric resistance)
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
the property of being physically or mentally strong
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
express a supposition
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
in or at that place or location
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
tightadjectiveUS /taɪt/
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She was a woman of about fifty, thin and nervous, with a curious habit of compressing her lips into a tight knot, under the impression, I suppose, that the result indicated strength of character.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading I never really understood why Mrs. Magnus asked for advice at all.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
widowedadjectiveUS /ˈwɪdoʊd/
single because of death of the spouse
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The position of confidential family adviser is not without its drawbacks, and it was with a certain reluctance that I told the office boy to show Mrs. Magnus in.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading If Mrs. Magnus chose to ruin herself there was, of course, no reason why I should worry, but it is annoying to have a person constantly asking for advice and as constantly disregarding it.
but in spite of that
From this reading For Mrs. Magnus was that _bête noire_ of the lawyer--a woman recently widowed, utterly without business experience, and yet with a firm belief in her ability to manage her husband's estate.
