used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
from appearances alone
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
armchairnounUS /ˈɑːrmtʃer/
chair with a support on each side for arms
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
barriernounUS /ˈbæriər/
a structure or object that impedes free movement
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
bellenounUS /bel/
a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
Contrôleur's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
Contrôleur-Général
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
Courtenai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
past form of “dare” — take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
discreetlyadverbUS /dɪˈskriːtli/
with discretion; prudently and with wise self-restraint
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
emptinessnounUS /ˈemptinəs/
the state of containing nothing
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
FAVOURSnounUS /ˈfeɪvərz/
plural of “favour” — a feeling of favorable regard
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
flooringnounUS /ˈflɔːrɪŋ/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
graciousnessnounUS /ˈɡreɪʃəsnəs/
excellence of manners or social conduct
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
any number of entities (members) considered as a unit
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
includingverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːdɪŋ/
-ing form of “include” — have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
located inward
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
Irène
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
in the recent past
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
Monseigneur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
not any; not one
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
on one occasion
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
parquetnounUS /pɑːrˈkeɪ/
a floor made of parquetry
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
PompadournounUS /ˈpɑːmpədɔːr/
French noblewoman who was the lover of Louis XV, whose policies she influenced (1721-1764)
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
precinctsnounUS /ˈpriːsɪŋkts/
plural of “precinct” — a district of a city or town marked out for administrative purposes
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Once more there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round the inner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Contrôleur-Général, and of Mme. de Pompadour.
ROYALadjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
concerned with religion or religious purposes
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
in or at that place or location
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
vacatedverbUS /veɪˈkeɪtɪd/
past form of “vacate” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
well-drilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The well-drilled circle of courtiers and ladies, including la belle Irène herself, retired discreetly.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Hardly was the coat on M. le Contrôleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation, whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated by Monseigneur de Courtenai.
which person or people
From this reading ROYAL FAVOURS Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning, as every one who looked could see.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Into these sacred precincts no one would have dared to step.
