used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/
past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
for the reason that
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
behaviournounUS /bɪˈheɪvjər/
the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
the two together, not just one
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
concoctedverbUS /kənˈkɑːktəd/
past form of “concoct” — make a concoction (of) by mixing
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
dairymaidnoun
a woman who works in a dairy
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
fiddlestring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
in a gradual manner
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
invariableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈveriəbəl/
not liable to or capable of change
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
landlady's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
joined in matrimony
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
not any; not one
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
something you have to do
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
responsesnounUS /rɪˈspɑːnsɪz/
plural of “response” — a result
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
RileverbUS /raɪl/
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Blood Rile,' she said; and her friends all said 'No!' like the run of a finger down a fiddlestring.
sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then they asked me how I accounted for her behaviour.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading My father had concocted the questions and prepared me for the responses, but the effect was striking, both upon his visitors and the landlady's.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'It was because the Duke married a dairymaid,' I replied, always tossing up my chin at that.
speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading Gradually my ear grew accustomed to her invariable whisper on these occasions.
