used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
dearly loved
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
Dick'snounUS /dɪks/
possessive form of “dick” — someone who is a detective
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
Dixon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/
using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
moving swiftly
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
the act of giving
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
only a very short time before
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
housekeepingnounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpɪŋ/
the work of cleaning and running a house
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
housemaidnoun
a female domestic
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
Isabel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
Papa'snounUS /ˈpɑːpɑːz/
possessive form of “papa” — an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading "Papa's bell is ringing, dear," said Lady Isabel, breathing hard.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
cut with a saw
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
a request to be present
From this reading A housemaid ran down the long passage in front of her, flying to the summons.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through the open door of the dining-room Lady Isabel saw Christian giving the dogs their breakfast.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
at the time that
From this reading Lady Isabel was returning from her accustomed housekeeping morning visit to Mrs. Dixon, when she was startled by the sharp outcry of an electric bell.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Dick's room!" she said to herself, beginning to hurry; she hardly knew why.
