the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN IDLE MORNING.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
characterised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
not accessible to view
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
DowagernounUS /ˈdaʊədʒər/
a widow holding property received from her deceased husband
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
divisible by two
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/
being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
set up or found
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
the act of departing
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
not in action or at work
From this reading AN IDLE MORNING.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading AN IDLE MORNING.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
and nothing more
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
an amount of time
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
experiencing or manifesting pleasure
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
Randolph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
representverbUS /ˌreprɪˈzent/
take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
Robert'snounUS /ˈrɑːbərts/
possessive form of “robert” — United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
term of address for a man
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She had never pretended to be fond of the county society.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading In the late Sir Robert's time she had not concealed the fact that the less time she spent in it the better she was pleased.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Dowager Lady Randolph had never found the Hall so dull.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
a special situation
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
at the time that
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was nothing going on, nothing even to look forward to: one formal dinner-party was the only thing to represent that large and cordial hospitality which she was glad to think had in her own time characterised the period when the Hall was open.
