used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
from appearances alone
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
BurnhamnounUS /ˈbɜːrnəm/
United States architect who designed the first important skyscraper with a skeleton (1846-1912)
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading WOULD SHE "DO"?
Erskine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
divisible by two
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
at any time
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
genialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒiːnjəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
set down according to a plan
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
being perceived or observed
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
penetrativeadjective
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WOULD SHE "DO"?
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
sympatheticadjectiveUS /ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk/
of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading She was genial, sympathetic, and not too penetrative in her questions.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She did not even ask at what time he had come.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading THE next morning Mrs. Burnham came into her pretty parlor, where a dainty breakfast table was laid for two, prepared to be as wise as a serpent over the new situation.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading WOULD SHE "DO"?
but in spite of that
From this reading Erskine had come home late, much later than he had ever been before; yet apparently his mother had not noticed it.
