used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
arm-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
beggingnounUS /ˈbeɡɪŋ/
a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
exaggeratedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtəd/
represented as greater than is true or reasonable
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
eyeingverbUS /ˈaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “eye” — look at
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
foolish-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
Gwen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
illustriousadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈlʌstriəs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
a room where books are kept
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
come together
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
used to form the superlative
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
easily agitated
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
poisedadjectiveUS /pɔɪzd/
marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
recurring again and again
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
representedadjectiveUS /ˌreprɪˈzentɪd/
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
Selloyd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Gwen poised herself on the arm of it, and swung one foot.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I hope you don’t mean that,” he said.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
precisely as stated
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
at the time that
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
which person or people
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When she entered the library Earl Selloyd had hastened to meet her with exaggerated courtesy, and dragged forward a big arm-chair, begging her to be seated.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Now, you know this is very foolish,” said Gwen.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Very foolish, indeed!” she repeated, eyeing gravely the thin, nervous, foolish-looking young man, who, nevertheless, represented one of the oldest and most illustrious families of England.
