used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
bridles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
courteouslyadverb
in a polite manner
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
dismounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
domesticsnounUS /dəˈmestɪks/
plural of “domestic” — a servant who is paid to perform menial tasks around the household
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
footmannounUS /ˈfʊtmən/
a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
a man of refinement
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
politenessnounUS /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
salutedverbUS /səˈluːtɪd/
past form of “salute” — propose a toast to
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
side-glancenoun
a glance sideways
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
in the direction of
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two of them appeared to be persons of importance, the other two were domestics.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These horsemen were four in number.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Count courteously returned their greeting, while taking a side-glance at them.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading On coming within a few steps of the Count, the first two dismounted, threw their bridles to the footman and advanced, hat in hand, towards the gentleman, whom they saluted with exquisite politeness.
