used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
bedsidenounUS /ˈbedsaɪd/
space by the side of a bed (especially the bed of a sick or dying person)
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
next to; at the side of
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
blindsnounUS /blaɪndz/
plural of “blind” — people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
containingverbUS /kənˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
daintyadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪnti/
delicately beautiful
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/
the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
being one more than seven
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
fairy-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
fittingsnounUS /ˈfɪtɪŋz/
plural of “fitting” — making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
where you live at a particular time
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
luxuriousadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriəs/
displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
ma'amnounUS /mæm/
a woman of refinement
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
a female domestic
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
oversleptverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈslept/
inflected form of “oversleep” — sleep longer than intended
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/
-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
on the contrary
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
shadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
with low volume
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
the rays of the sun
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
SydneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading “Eight o’clock, ma’am,” the maid answered softly, placing the tray on a little table by her bedside.
tea-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
unsubstantialadjective
lacking material form or substance; unreal
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
WardnounUS /wɔːrd/
a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Surely she had overslept herself, and Ward was bringing her a rather unsubstantial breakfast in bed!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Oh, what _is_ the time?” cried poor Sydney in dismay.
at the time that
From this reading THE FIRST MORNING Bright sunshine greeted Sydney when she awoke on the first morning in her new home.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It fell softly through the shading blinds upon the dainty fittings of her luxurious room, and on Ward, as she stood beside her with a tray, containing a fairy-like tea-set for one.
