used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
bellsnounUS /belz/
plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
breakfasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
curl-papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
well in the past; former
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
dynastynounUS /ˈdaɪnəsti/
a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
a social unit living together
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
feminineadjectiveUS /ˈfemənən/
associated with women and not with men
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
foundationsnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
plural of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
a state of high honor
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
a social unit living together
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
incursionnounUS /ˌɪnˈkɜːrʒən/
the act of entering some territory or domain (often in large numbers)
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
unbiased impartial unconcern
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
indulgeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒ/
give free rein to
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
laisser-aller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
laxadjectiveUS /læks/
lacking in rigor or strictness
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
lazinessnounUS /ˈleɪzinəs/
inactivity resulting from a dislike of work
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
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 household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
for more time
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
multipliedadjectiveUS /ˈmʌltəplaɪd/
greatly increased as by multiplication
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
not any; not one
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
nobleradjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblər/
comparative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
resounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/
the sound of a bell ringing
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
Rothesay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Rothesay could no longer indulge her laziness--no breakfasting in bed, and coming down in curl-papers.
a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
activities associated with sexual intercourse
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
Stirling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The return of the husband and father produced a considerable change in the little family at Stirling.
in or at that place or location
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
precisely as stated
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Its easy _laisser-aller_, its lax rule, and its indifference to regular forms were at an end.
at the time that
From this reading From the first morning when there resounded the multiplied ringing of bells, and the creaking of boots on the staircase, the glory of the feminine dynasty was departed.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading A household, long composed entirely of women, always feels to its very foundations the incursion of one of the “nobler sex.”
