used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
next to; at the side of
From this reading I should hear it better, sitting beside him.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
Bettina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
breakfasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The pang when he passed the sofa by!
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
ERIC'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
accept an excuse for
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
start firing a weapon
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading I should hear it better, sitting beside him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I should hear it better, sitting beside him.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
indoorsadverbUS /ˈɪndɔːrz/
within a building
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
morning-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
morningsnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋz/
plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
pangnounUS /pæŋ/
a sudden sharp feeling
From this reading The pang when he passed the sofa by!
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The pang when he passed the sofa by!
precisely, exactly
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I should hear it better, sitting beside him.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading I should hear it better, sitting beside him.
sofanounUS /ˈsoʊfə/
an upholstered seat for more than one person
From this reading The pang when he passed the sofa by!
a thing, without saying which
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
express in words
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the back of my mind I was hoping Eric's complaint of cold was an excuse.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ERIC'S SECRET My sister and I breakfasted in the morning-room in those days, and we always had a fire for Bettina's sake on chilly mornings.
at the time that
From this reading The pang when he passed the sofa by!
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If my first impression had been right, if he had something to tell me, he would tell it better indoors.
