used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
addressesnounUS /ˈæˈdresɪz/
plural of “address” — (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
(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 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
bespeakverbUS /bɪˈspiːk/
be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading 'Certainly, Madam,' replied Laura.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
at any time
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
the state of being honored
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
of great significance or value
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/
address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
Ladyship's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
a woman of refinement
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
musteringverbUS /ˈmʌstərɪŋ/
-ing form of “muster” — gather or bring together
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
on one occasion
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
paragonnounUS /ˈperəɡɑːn/
an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
PelhamnounUS /ˈpeləm/
a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
To recall to mind.
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading 'Certainly, Madam,' replied Laura.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
spleennounUS /spliːn/
a large dark-red oval organ on the left side of the body between the stomach and the diaphragm; produces cells involved in immune responses
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
precisely as stated
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading 'We were discussing a very important subject, Madam,' answered Laura, mustering all her confidence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 'You may remember I once told you that if ever I received addresses which I could with honour reveal, I should bespeak your Ladyship's patience for my tale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading 'May I be permitted to inquire into the nature of it?' returned Lady Pelham, covering her spleen with a thin disguise of ceremony.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 'Pray,' said Lady Pelham to her niece, 'what might you and your paragon be engaged in for the hour and a half you were together this evening?'
