used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
architecturallyadverbUS /ˌɑːrkɪˈtektʃərəli/
with regard to architecture
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
for the reason that
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I should be sorry to undertake to say why it was called Dinglewood.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
Dinglewood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
every person
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
grassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡræsi/
abounding in grass
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
Greshams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/
lacking in physical beauty or proportion
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
improvementsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənts/
plural of “improvement” — a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
Kensington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
Kew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
and nothing more
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
red-brickadjective
of or relating to British universities founded in the late 19th century or the 20th century
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
cut with a saw
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
express in words
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
only a very short time before
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I should be sorry to undertake to say why it was called Dinglewood.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading I should be sorry to undertake to say why it was called Dinglewood.
express in speech
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It was an old-fashioned red-brick house, nothing to speak of architecturally--in the style of Kensington Palace and Kew, and the rest of those old homely royal houses.
great in vertical dimension; high in stature
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
terracenounUS /ˈterəs/
usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
undertakeverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪk/
enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading I should be sorry to undertake to say why it was called Dinglewood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
precisely as stated
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
which person or people
From this reading Those who saw Dinglewood only after the improvements had been made could scarcely be able to form to themselves any idea of what it was before the Greshams came.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I should be sorry to undertake to say why it was called Dinglewood.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The drawing-room opened its tall narrow windows upon a little terrace, which was very green and grassy, and pleasant.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I call them improvements because everybody used the word; but I cannot say I thought the house improved.
