used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
canarynounUS /kəˈneri/
someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
without doubt or question
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
combinationnounUS /ˌkɑːmbəˈneɪʃən/
a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
distinguishverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
mark as different
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/
open to doubt or suspicion
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
fidgeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
Hammerton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
Hammerton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
a female domestic
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
presumablyadverbUS /prəˈzuːməbli/
by reasonable assumption
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Mrs. Hammerton sat at coffee in the combination breakfast and dining room of her pretty little apartment.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
sillnounUS /sɪl/
structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
the rays of the sun
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
the rays of the sun
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
very small
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
precisely as stated
From this reading A surprised and very doubtful maid admitted him to Mrs. Hammerton's tiny reception room and took his card; and he fidgeted there impatiently until the maid returned to conduct him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
be dressed in
From this reading He had never seen her wear glasses, but a pair, presumably hers, was lying across the morning paper on the edge of the table.
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 A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Windows behind her threw her face into shadow against the sunlight, and he could not clearly distinguish her features.
yawnedverbUS /jɔːnd/
past form of “yawn” — utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
From this reading A canary sang persistently in the sunshine; a friendly cat yawned on the window sill.
