used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
a quantity of money
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
apologynounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiː/
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
apronnounUS /ˈeɪprən/
a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
astonishingadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
surprising greatly
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
bringin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
chagrinnounUS /ʃəˈɡrɪn/
strong feelings of embarrassment
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
Clodagh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
traveling across
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
dirtyadjectiveUS /ˈdɜːrti/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
doin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
domainnounUS /doʊˈmeɪn/
a particular environment or walk of life
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
draughtyadjective
not airtight
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
entailedverbUS /ɪnˈteɪld/
past form of “entail” — have as a logical consequence
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
establishmentnounUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃmənt/
the act of forming or establishing something
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
furtiveadjectiveUS /ˈfɜːrtɪv/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
gintleman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
Hannah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
the act of retaining something
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
hospitalitynounUS /ˌhɑːspəˈtæləti/
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
inherentadjectiveUS /ɪnˈhɪrənt/
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
isn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
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 Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
mainstaynounUS /ˈmeɪnsteɪ/
a prominent supporter
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
Milbanke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
noisyadjectiveUS /ˈnɔɪzi/
full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
potsnounUS /pɑːts/
plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid
From this reading To be bringin' the gintleman down here--an' me in the middle of me pots?
quare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
saucepannounUS /ˈsɔːspæn/
a deep pan with a handle; used for stewing or boiling
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
shortestadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtɪst/
superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
stablesnounUS /ˈsteɪbəlz/
plural of “stable” — a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
having a supporting base
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
straightenverbUS /ˈstreɪtən/
straighten up or out; make straight
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading At sight of the stranger, she dropped the knife she was holding, and made a furtive attempt to straighten her ample and somewhat dirty apron.
swayverbUS /sweɪ/
move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
a special situation
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
traversingverbUS /trəˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
undisputedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndɪsˈpjuːtɪd/
generally agreed upon; not subject to dispute
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
in or at the place that
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
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 As they entered her domain, she was standing by an open window engaged in the cleaning of a saucepan--an operation to which she brought an astonishing amount of noisy energy.
windyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪndi/
abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
wisha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without ceremony or apology Clodagh led Milbanke to the stables by the shortest route, which entailed the traversing of several long and windy passages and the crossing of the great, draughty kitchen where Hannah, the housekeeper, cook, and general mainstay of the establishment, held undisputed sway.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Ah, wisha, Miss Clodagh," she began in a voice that trembled between chagrin and an inherent sense of hospitality, "isn't that a quare thing for you to be doin' now?
