used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
the state of being absent
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
beamedverbUS /biːmd/
past form of “beam” — smile radiantly; express joy through one's facial expression
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/
belief about (or mental picture of) the future
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
glovesnounUS /ɡlʌvz/
plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
greetverbUS /ɡriːt/
express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
joyfuladjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/
full of or producing joy
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
knockernoun
(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/
United States religious and writer (1915-1968)
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
Patricia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
piano-stool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
picturingnounUS /ˈpɪktʃərɪŋ/
visual imagery
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
prettieradjectiveUS /ˈprɪtiər/
comparative of “pretty” — pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
with speed
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
Rosamond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
in the near future
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
very small
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
precisely as stated
From this reading A DINNER FOR TWO Rosamond Merton came home unexpectedly to find Patricia grown very much at home indeed during the four days of her absence.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
the sensation caused by heat energy
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rosamond was so much prettier than Patricia had been picturing her that she fairly beamed as she came to greet her.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading "It's lovely to be welcomed home," she returned, beginning to pull off her gloves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She opened the door of the sitting-room, after a light tap of the tiny brass knocker, to find Patricia rising from the piano-stool with pleased expectation in her face, an expression which rapidly became one of joyful surprise.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "How lovely of you to come back so soon," she said with such warmth that Rosamond Merton felt glad that she had been compelled to cut her visit short.
