generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
united by being of the same opinion
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "SHE WILL NOT COME."
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
to come or go into
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
accept an excuse for
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
fatiguenounUS /fəˈtiːɡ/
temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
good-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "SHE WILL NOT COME."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
pretextnounUS /ˈpriːtekst/
something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
retiringadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrɪŋ/
not arrogant or presuming
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
express in words
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "SHE WILL NOT COME."
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
trop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "SHE WILL NOT COME."
hope for; have a wish
From this reading "My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly _de trop_ under the circumstances.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable," he agreed.
