used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
quickly and without warning
From this reading 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
(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 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
appropriationnounUS /əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/
money set aside (as by a legislature) for a specific purpose
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Cicely perched herself on the edge of his writing-table.
eighteenth-century
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
FarrellnounUS /ˈferɪl/
United States writer remembered for his novels (1904-1979)
From this reading 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Cicely perched herself on the edge of his writing-table.
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
a health facility where patients receive treatment
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
intactadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtækt/
constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
a room where books are kept
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
information about recent and important events
From this reading 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Cicely perched herself on the edge of his writing-table.
perchedverbUS /pɜːrtʃt/
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading Cicely perched herself on the edge of his writing-table.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
preservedadjectiveUS /prəˈzɜːrvd/
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
a safe place
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
precisely, exactly
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
Rydal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
not in physical motion
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Hester has brought her to Rydal all right,' she said cheerfully.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
(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 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'Well--what news?' said Farrell abruptly.
at the time that
From this reading The library was a fine eighteenth-century room still preserved intact amid the general appropriation of the big house by the hospital, and when he was not busy in his office, it was his place of refuge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For Cicely had come into his library with a letter in her hand.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cicely perched herself on the edge of his writing-table.
