used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
(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 "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
being joined in close association
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
carelesslyadverbUS /ˈkerləsli/
without care or concern
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
considersverbUS /kənˈsɪdərz/
third-person singular of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
d'Altier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
excessivelyadverbUS /ɪkˈsesɪvli/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
set up or found
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading Madame d'Altier laughed.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
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 It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
perpetualadjectiveUS /pərˈpetʃuːəl/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading "Oh! not at all; she is slow and disagreeable.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading I should have taken another could I have found one."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
precisely as stated
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
a late time of life
From this reading It seemed to her excessively absurd that it should be a perpetual subject of complaint and astonishment, that a servant is not more attached to the master whom he has served many years, while the master considers it quite a matter of course to care nothing about the servant, by whom he has been served during all this time.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Were you very much attached to her?" asked Madame d'Altier, carelessly.
