used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
eagerly desirous
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
ButlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
taking care or paying attention
From this reading "I've worked it out carefully," he said.
certificatesnounUS /sərˈtɪfɪkəts/
plural of “certificate” — a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
delicacynounUS /ˈdeləkəsi/
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
Elsie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
governessnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnəs/
a woman entrusted with the care and supervision of a child (especially in a private home)
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I've worked it out carefully," he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've worked it out carefully," he said.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I've worked it out carefully," he said.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
not any; not one
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
regardingverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
a special situation
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
TinkerverbUS /ˈtɪŋkər/
do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
Tinker'snounUS /ˈtɪŋkərz/
possessive form of “tinker” — a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines and their parts
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
precisely as stated
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
which person or people
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Tinker's face wore a very serious, almost anxious, air.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading "I've worked it out carefully," he said.
a late time of life
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Yes," said Madame Butler, smiling, "and what kind of a governess do you want?"
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The pretty young lady, who had been regarding Tinker with smiling interest, turned away with the proper delicacy, and looked out of the window.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading "Elsie's ten years old, two years younger than I am, and there is no need for her governess to have degrees or certificates or that kind of thing.
