used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
(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 For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
a youthful male person
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
certificatenounUS /sərˈtɪfɪkət/
a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
lawyersnounUS /ˈlɔːjərz/
plural of “lawyer” — a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
legitimacynounUS /ləˈdʒɪtəməsi/
lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
the literary culture
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
MacleodnounUS /məˈklaʊd/
Scottish physiologist who directed the research by F. G. Banting and C. H. Best that led to the discovery of insulin (1876-1935)
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
not any; not one
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
on one occasion
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
Paul'snounUS /pɔːlz/
possessive form of “paul” — United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
be seated
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
except if; if not
From this reading Unless, indeed, that marriage certificate had nothing to do with the boy at all.
Vane's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
precisely as stated
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The question of those letters could very well wait for a time.
at the time that
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading For all she knew to the contrary, the lawyers might have similar proof of little Paul's legitimacy; if they had not, why they ought to have.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading Everything seemed working for her, so there was no need for her to work for herself.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When Paul Macleod left Mrs. Vane's drawing-room that afternoon she told herself that she could, for once, afford to sit with folded hands and let the world go its own way for a time.
