used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
rid of obstructions
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
coughingnounUS /ˈkɑːfɪŋ/
a sudden noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; a common symptom of upper respiratory infection or bronchitis or pneumonia or tuberculosis
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
greatly pleased
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
feelings of ardent love
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
dining-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
put on clothes
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
every person
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
set up or found
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
brought together in one place
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
glossyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːsi/
based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
Half-a-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
and nothing more
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
knightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/
characteristic of the time of chivalry and knighthood in the Middle Ages
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
laceverbUS /leɪs/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
attach a tag or label to
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
take in marriage
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
nicestadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪsɪst/
superlative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
causing physical or psychological pain
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
pearlsnounUS /pɜːrlz/
plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
a human being
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
precisely, exactly
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
satinnounUS /ˈsætən/
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading When she came downstairs to receive Dan she was coughing, and he showed his devotion by being greatly concerned about her health.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
in or at that place or location
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
not known
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
at the time that
From this reading When Dan came to see her the next morning, he found her in a mixed mood.
a Caucasian
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
which person or people
From this reading She had gathered the nicest people in the neighbourhood about her, and on her right there was a shadowy person, a man of mark, and knightly, who delighted in her conversation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading She saw herself in white satin and lace and pearls, a slender figure at the head of a long dining-table, interesting to everybody, and Dan was at the foot, looking quite distinguished in evening dress, with his glossy black hair and wonderful clear skin.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Half-a-dozen times during the night she had declined to marry him in a painful scene, but just as often her imagination would run on into the unknown life she would have to lead with him.
