Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

past form of “adhere” — be compatible or in accordance with

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

(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 She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

without good sense or judgment

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

a gay feeling

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

a room where books are kept

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

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 She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

held dear

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

a female domestic

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

your grandmother

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

small flat mass of chopped food

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

cut with a saw

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

in secrecy; not openly

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

responsive to physical stimuli

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading However, it couldn't be helped now, so she prepared to spend the evening reading in the library.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

in or at that place or location

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

in the direction of

From this reading She loved fun and gaiety, and it suddenly seemed to her that she had been foolishly sensitive about Mrs. Van Reypen's attitude toward her.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading She played the piano and sang a little, then she wandered about the large and lonely rooms.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

at the time that

From this reading THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Patty adhered to her resolution not to go to the theatre on Monday night, but when she saw Mrs. Van Reypen and Philip start off she secretly regretted her decision.

in the company of; together with

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She would have liked to hold a long telephone conversation with Nan and her father, but she thought she had better not, for there were so many house servants on duty that a maid or a footman would be likely to overhear her.