used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
alightverbUS /əˈlaɪt/
to come to rest, settle
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
AllennounUS /ˈælən/
United States comedienne remembered as the confused but imperturbable partner of her husband, George Burns (1906-1964)
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
alludedverbUS /əˈluːdɪd/
past form of “allude” — make a more or less disguised reference to
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
a feeling of delight at being entertained
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/
get or gather together
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
CynthianounUS /ˈsɪnθiə/
(Greek mythology) the virgin goddess of the hunt and the Moon; daughter of Leto and twin sister of Apollo; identified with Roman Diana
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
demureadjectiveUS /dɪˈmjʊr/
affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
Fayre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
HatternounUS /ˈhætər/
someone who makes and sells hats
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Quite twelve years, I should think.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
and nothing more
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
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 “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
misstatementnounUS /mɪˈsteɪtmənt/
a statement that contains a mistake
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
nicknamenounUS /ˈnɪkneɪm/
a familiar name for a person (often a shortened version of a person's given name)
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
OxfordnounUS /ˈɑːksfərd/
a city in southern England to the northwest of London; site of Oxford University
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Quite twelve years, I should think.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
Staveley's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
tea-cake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
a special situation
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “Quite twelve years, I should think.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading “Quite twelve years, I should think.
unawareadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈwer/
(often followed by “of”) not aware
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
unregenerateadjective
tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
From this reading Allen Fayre, better known to his friends as “Hatter,” a nickname he had somehow managed to collect in his unregenerate Oxford days, paused for reflection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had just alluded to Lady Cynthia Bell as “a demure little thing” and was now discussing his tea-cake with the serenity of one quite unaware that he has been guilty of an incredible misstatement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lady Staveley’s fine eyes were alight with amusement as she turned them on her guest.
a late time of life
From this reading “Quite twelve years, I should think.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How long is it since you have seen Cynthia, Mr. Fayre?”
