used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
Balcairnie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
behavedverbUS /bɪˈheɪvd/
past form of “behave” — behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
divisible by two
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
fortuitousadjectiveUS /fɔːrˈtuːɪtəs/
having no cause or apparent cause
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading PEGGY’S FRIENDS.
graciouslyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪʃəsli/
in a gracious or graceful manner
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
guinea-fowls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
hard-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
Huntingtower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
intentnounUS /ˌɪnˈtent/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
moultingnoun
periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
narrow-mindedadjective
capable of being shocked
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The visit to Balcairnie was paid.
PEGGY'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEGGY’S FRIENDS.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
PrimrosenounUS /ˈprɪmroʊz/
any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus Primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
propitiousadjectiveUS /prəˈpɪʃəs/
presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
Ramsay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
recentadjectiveUS /ˈriːsənt/
new
From this reading Everything was propitious, even to a recent fortuitous moulting of the guinea-fowls.
renderingnounUS /ˈrendərɪŋ/
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
From this reading The ladies behaved as graciously as the host was intent on rendering the visit a pleasure to his guests.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading The visit to Balcairnie was paid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The visit to Balcairnie was paid.
which person or people
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The woman who sang ‘Huntingtower’ as Primrose Ramsay sang it could neither be hard-hearted nor narrow-minded, Balcairnie said to himself, and he acted on the speech.
