used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
adjoiningverbUS /əˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “adjoin” — lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
alterationnounUS /ˌɔːltərˈeɪʃən/
an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
apartmentsnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “apartment” — a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
playing or singing with instrumental or vocal accompaniment
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
Berkow's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
bustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
carpetsnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəts/
plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
cooksnounUS /kʊks/
plural of “cook” — someone who cooks food
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/
plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
divisible by two
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
to or in any or all places
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
festivitynounUS /feˈstɪvəti/
any joyous diversion
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
kitchensnounUS /ˈkɪtʃənz/
plural of “kitchen” — a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
maidsnounUS /meɪdz/
plural of “maid” — a female domestic
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
pantries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
portieres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
reigningadjectiveUS /ˈreɪnɪŋ/
exercising power or authority
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Servants ran up and down stairs, cooks and maids bustled about the kitchens and pantries.
carry out
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The curtains were let down, the _portieres_ closed, and in the adjoining apartments, the servants glided noiselessly about over the thick carpets, putting everything in order.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
unrestnounUS /ənˈrest/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
under normal conditions
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile preparations were being made up at the great house for the grand dinner which was to take place that day.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading There was everywhere something to be attended to, some alteration to be made, and the whole house offered that appearance of busy unrest which usually precedes a festivity.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The quiet reigning in young Berkow's rooms seemed even greater by the contrast.
