used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
annoyancenounUS /əˈnɔɪəns/
the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Pressing business," he answered.
appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/
the act of putting a person into a non-elective position
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading "Pressing business," he answered.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
Craige
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
detainedverbUS /dɪˈteɪnd/
past form of “detain” — deprive of freedom; take into confinement
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
displeasurenounUS /dɪˈspleʒər/
the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
at any time
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
conformity or harmony
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
maskedadjectiveUS /mæskt/
having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
many times at short intervals
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
ParsonsnounUS /ˈpɑːrsənz/
United States sociologist (1902-1979)
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
PressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading "Pressing business," he answered.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
repeatedlyadverbUS /rɪˈpiːtɪdli/
several time
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
an impression that something might be the case
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She masked her displeasure under a smiling face.
on a floor above
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
usheringverbUS /ˈʌʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading SUSPICION It was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Ah, Charles, what has detained you?" she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it.
