used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
(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 First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
eagerly desirous
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
breadthnounUS /bredθ/
the capacity to understand a broad range of topics
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
broachedadjectiveUS /broʊtʃt/
of a cask or barrel
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Some people would call it an inspiration.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
Chinnery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
communicatedverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/
past form of “communicate” — transmit information
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
without deviation
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
hair'snounUS /herz/
possessive form of “hair” — a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
HartleynounUS /ˈhɑːrtli/
English philosopher who introduced the theory of the association of ideas (1705-1757)
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading “Some people would call it an inspiration.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
past form of “mention” — make reference to
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
nervousnessnounUS /ˈnɜːrvəsnəs/
the anxious feeling you have when you have the jitters
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
information about recent and important events
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading “Some people would call it an inspiration.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It was my own idea entirely,” he said with a feeble attempt to conceal a little natural pride.
Identical; not different.
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
TranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
ValenounUS /veɪl/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
Vyner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading THE news that Mrs. Chinnery had taken a house of her own and was anxious to let rooms, gave Robert Vyner an idea which kept him busy the whole of an evening.
in the company of; together with
From this reading First of all he broached it to Hartley, but finding him divided between joy and nervousness he took the matter into his own hands and paid a visit to Tranquil Vale; the result of which he communicated with some pride to Joan Hartley the same afternoon.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Some people would call it an inspiration.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Directly I heard that Mrs. Chinnery was anxious to let rooms I thought of your children—I mentioned the idea to your father and escaped an embrace by a hair’s breadth.
