used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
afflictionnounUS /əˈflɪkʃən/
a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER SUPPER.
how long something has existed
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
Alexa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
congratulatedverbUS /kənˈɡrætʃəleɪtɪd/
past form of “congratulate” — say something to someone that expresses praise
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
take in solid food
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
the act of consuming food
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
farenounUS /fer/
an agenda of things to do
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
fatnessnoun
excess bodily weight
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
lairdnounUS /lerd/
a landowner
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
not any; not one
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
partook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
porridgenounUS /ˈpɔːrədʒ/
soft food made by boiling oatmeal or other meal or legumes in water or milk until thick
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
express in words
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
sick-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
sparinglyadverbUS /ˈsperɪŋli/
to a meager degree or in a meager manner
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
sufferernounUS /ˈsʌfərər/
a person suffering from an illness
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading AFTER SUPPER.
sweetlyadverbUS /ˈswiːtli/
in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
tendedverbUS /ˈtendɪd/
past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They always eat in the kitchen.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Strange to say, there was no dining-room in the house, though there was a sweetly old-fashioned drawing-room.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The laird partook but sparingly, on the ground that the fare tended to fatness, which affliction of age he congratulated himself on having hitherto escaped.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The servant was with the sufferer, but Alexa was too much in the sick-room, notwithstanding, to know that she was eating her porridge and milk.
