used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
Adèle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
Clotilde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
Duveyriers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
eighthadjectiveUS /eɪtθ/
coming next after the seventh and just before the ninth in position
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
a social unit living together
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
a group of persons together in one place
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
an established custom
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
Josserand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
Julie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
lendingnounUS /ˈlendɪŋ/
disposing of money or property with the expectation that the same thing (or an equivalent) will be returned
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
and nothing more
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
receptionsnounUS /rɪˈsepʃənz/
plural of “reception” — the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In December, the eighth month of her morning, Madame Josserand for the first time accepted an invitation to dine out.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
make an effort or attempt
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
washing-upnoun
the washing of dishes etc after a meal
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
at the time that
From this reading The ladies were in the habit of thus lending their servants to each other on the days when they gave parties.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was merely at the Duveyriers’, almost a family gathering, with which Clotilde opened her Saturday receptions of the new winter.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The day before, Adèle had been told that she would have to help Julie with the washing-up.
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “And above all, try and put a little more go into yourself,” said Madame Josserand to her maid-of-all-work.
