used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
assistverbUS /əˈsɪst/
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Come in," called the Countess.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/
plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/
a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
clothing in general
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
coldlyadverbUS /ˈkoʊldli/
lacking warmth of feeling; in a cold, unemotional manner
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Come in," called the Countess.
female equivalent of a count or earl
From this reading "Come in," called the Countess.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading We entered.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
HolmesnounUS /hoʊmz/
a fictitious detective in stories by A. Conan Doyle
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/
possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Come in," called the Countess.
indebtedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdetɪd/
owing gratitude or recognition to another for help or favors etc
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
a message received and understood
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
Ladyshipnoun
a title used to address any peeress except a duchess
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
set down according to a plan
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
motionedverbUS /ˈmoʊʃənd/
past form of “motion” — show, express or direct through movement
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
and nothing more
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/
a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
relativenounUS /ˈrelətɪv/
a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
riggedadjectiveUS /rɪɡd/
fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
robberynounUS /ˈrɑːbəri/
larceny by threat of violence
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Come in," called the Countess.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
valet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We entered.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would greatly assist me in clearing up the mystery of the robbery.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Well, Mr. Holmes, to what am I indebted for the honor of this visit, and for the privilege of seeing you rigged up in the valet's clothes?" she asked,--a little coldly, I thought, as she motioned us to chairs, and laid down the French novel she had been reading.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Only to my desire for a little information relative to your noble husband's cigars, Your Ladyship.
