used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
apologeticadjectiveUS /əˌpɑːləˈdʒetɪk/
offering or expressing apology
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
Barbara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
carefully weighed
From this reading Barbara considered that, in the matter of punishment, he had had enough.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Barbara considered that, in the matter of punishment, he had had enough.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
stop blaming or grant forgiveness
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
forgivenessnounUS /fərˈɡɪvnəs/
compassionate feelings that support a willingness to forgive
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
graciousnees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
property that is leased or rented out or let
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading He would need, she reflected, a lot of reinstating.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Barbara considered that, in the matter of punishment, he had had enough.
a form of address for a man
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading He would need, she reflected, a lot of reinstating.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
palpablyadverbUS /ˈpælpəbli/
so as to be palpable
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
the act of punishing
From this reading Barbara considered that, in the matter of punishment, he had had enough.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading He would need, she reflected, a lot of reinstating.
reinstateverbUS /ˌriːɪnˈsteɪt/
restore to the previous state or rank
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
reinstatingverbUS /ˌriːɪnˈsteɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “reinstate” — restore to the previous state or rank
From this reading He would need, she reflected, a lot of reinstating.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Barbara considered that, in the matter of punishment, he had had enough.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
precisely as stated
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
Waddington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading She had thought of being late as a way of letting Mr. Waddington down easily.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To begin with, Barbara was very late for dinner.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading She would come in, smiling and apologetic, palpably in the wrong, having kept him waiting, and he would be gracious and forgive her, and his graciousnees and forgiveness would help to reinstate him.
