used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
BrentnounUS /brent/
small dark geese that breed in the north and migrate southward
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
broochnounUS /bruːtʃ/
a decorative pin worn by women
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
a natural or artificial enclosed space
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
colonel'snounUS /ˈkɜːrnəlz/
possessive form of “colonel” — a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
dressing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
expensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspensɪv/
high in price or charging high prices
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
a social unit living together
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
insignianounUS /ˌɪnˈsɪɡniːə/
a badge worn to show official position
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
immediately past
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
LegionnounUS /ˈliːdʒən/
archaic terms for army
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
lossesnounUS /ˈlɔːsəz/
something lost (especially money lost at gambling)
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
LoyaladjectiveUS /ˈlɔɪəl/
steadfast in allegiance or duty
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
Maidie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
merrimentnoun
a gay feeling
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
missingadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsɪŋ/
not able to be found
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/
possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
held or filled or in use
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
Porter'snounUS /ˈpɔːrtərz/
possessive form of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
PotomacnounUS /pəˈtoʊmək/
a river in the east central United States; rises in West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains and flows eastward, forming the boundary between Maryland and Virginia, to the Chesapeake Bay
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
prizedverbUS /praɪzd/
past form of “prize” — hold dear
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
a container used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women)
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
ransackedadjectiveUS /ˈrænsækt/
wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
savingsnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋz/
a fund of money put by as a reserve
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
trinketsnounUS /ˈtrɪŋkəts/
plural of “trinket” — cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
uniformadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrm/
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Maidie's had evidently been the last room visited.
wardrobenounUS /ˈwɔːrdroʊb/
a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
From this reading The dressing-table and wardrobe of the opposite chamber--that occupied by Colonel and Mrs. Brent--had been ransacked.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
look attentively
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
at the time that
From this reading But there was little merriment when, five minutes later, the household had taken account of stock and realized the extent of their losses.
a Caucasian
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Miss Porter's little purse with her modest savings and a brooch that had been her mother's were missing.
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The colonel's watch and chain,--too bulky, he said, to be worn at dinner in white uniform,--his Loyal Legion and Army of the Potomac insignia, and some prized though not expensive trinkets of his good wife were gone.
