used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
(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 “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
Hart'snounUS /hɑːrts/
possessive form of “hart” — United States playwright who collaborated with George S. Kaufman (1904-1961)
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Josephine presented herself.
Hetzel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
Hetzel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
imprisonmentnounUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
putting someone in prison or in jail as lawful punishment
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THURSDAY morning it rained.
Josephine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THURSDAY morning it rained.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Josephine presented herself.
rainedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rain” — precipitate as rain
From this reading THURSDAY morning it rained.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
Ripley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
rumornounUS /ˈruːmər/
gossip (usually a mixture of truth and untruth) passed around by word of mouth
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
express in words
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
sicknessnounUS /ˈsɪknəs/
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
express in speech
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
THURSDAYnounUS /ˈθɜːrzdeɪ/
the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day
From this reading THURSDAY morning it rained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
precisely as stated
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
waitressnounUS /ˈweɪtrəs/
a woman waiter
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “All right,” said Hetzel; “ask her to step this way.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
at the time that
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hetzel was seated in Mrs. Hart’s dining-room, making such an apology for a breakfast as, under the circumstances, could be expected of him, when the waitress announced that Josephine was in the kitchen, and wished to speak with her master.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Not without some embarrassment, she declared that she had heard what rumor had to say of Mrs. Ripley’s imprisonment and of Mr. Ripley’s sickness, and that she was anxious to learn the very truth of the matter from Hetzel’s lips.
