used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
casuallyadverbUS /ˈkæʒəwəli/
not methodically or according to plan
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
Dillon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
the act of departing
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
identitynounUS /aɪˈdentɪtiː/
the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
go away from a place
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
a female domestic
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
a particular point in time
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
panelnounUS /ˈpænəl/
sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
permittingverbUS /pərˈmɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/
the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
raptadjectiveUS /ræpt/
feeling great rapture or delight
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
RembrandtnounUS /ˈrembrænt/
influential Dutch artist (1606-1669)
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
RobberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
velvetnounUS /ˈvelvət/
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
From this reading The Robbery The girls hastily jerked the velvet curtains over the painting and closed the secret panel.
viewedverbUS /vjuːd/
past form of “view” — deem to be
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now that she and Amy had viewed Mrs. Dillon's purchase they were eager to leave the house before their identity was discovered.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We must be going," Penny said casually for the benefit of the servant.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
at the time that
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the maid entered the room a moment later they were gazing with rapt interest at the picture which served to disguise the Rembrandt.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Thank you for permitting us to see the canvas."
