used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
in actual fact
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
next to; at the side of
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
BrooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
clewnoun
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
embarrassmentsnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənts/
plural of “embarrassment” — the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
Foss-brooke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
set up or found
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
knaveries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
LacyadjectiveUS /ˈleɪsi/
made of or resembling lace
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
Lendrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/
machines or machine systems collectively
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
the force of workers available
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
not any; not one
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
scruplenounUS /ˈskruːpəl/
a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
term of address for a man
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “No,” cried Lendrick, eagerly; “I can't follow these men in their knaveries.
up to a particular time
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “The drift is easy enough to understand,” said Foss-brooke.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading “A man wants to escape from his embarrassments, and has little scruple as to the means.”
at the time that
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading I don't see the drift of them, and I lose the clew to the whole machinery.”
window-recesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Lacy reached the drawing-room, she found her father and Sir Brook deep in conversation in one of the window-recesses, and actually unaware of her entrance till she stood beside them.
