used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
Abbott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
beefnounUS /biːf/
cattle that are reared for their meat
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
Candace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
ELFIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ELFIE GONE!
excusedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈkjuːzd/
granted exemption
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
destroyed or killed
From this reading ELFIE GONE!
come to pass
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
a social unit living together
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
irregularitynounUS /ˌɪreɡjəˈlerəti/
behavior that breaches the rule or etiquette or custom or morality
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
mealsnounUS /miːlz/
plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
not able to be found
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
not any; not one
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
roastverbUS /roʊst/
cook with dry heat, usually in an oven
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
in or at that place or location
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “No one has asked to be excused, and irregularity at meals has never been a fault of any of our household.”
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I don’t understand it at all,” said Miss Blake.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
up-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading “How does it happen,” said Mrs. Abbott, as she carved the roast beef at dinner, “that there are so many vacant places at the table?”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Elfie is missing too,” said Mrs. Abbott, “but she is undoubtedly up-stairs in the room with Candace.”
