used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
aimlessadjectiveUS /ˈeɪmləs/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
in addition
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
Anthon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
Anthon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
an occurrence of something
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
companionshipnounUS /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/
the state of being with someone
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
condescendedverbUS /ˌkɑːndɪˈsendɪd/
past form of “condescend” — behave in a patronizing and condescending manner
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
without stop or interruption
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
desultoryadjectiveUS /ˈdesəltɔːri/
marked by lack of definite plan or regularity or purpose; jumping from one thing to another
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
dressmakersnounUS /ˈdresmeɪkərz/
plural of “dressmaker” — someone who makes or mends dresses
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
Erard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
Erard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
at any time
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
accept an excuse for
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
hintedverbUS /ˈhɪntəd/
past form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
go away from a place
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
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 And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
lothadjectiveUS /lɑːθ/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
Madeleine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
milliners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
on one occasion
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
precipitateverbUS /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
bring about abruptly
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
raillerynoun
light teasing repartee
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
raspingadjective
unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
restlessnessnounUS /ˈrestləsnəs/
the quality of being ceaselessly moving or active
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
scurryings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
Sebastian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At least once a day she could escape from Mrs. Anthon’s rasping companionship, and the dressmakers and milliners and aimless scurryings to and fro.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
carry out
From this reading And, so long as Erard condescended to take an interest in her case, she was loth to leave Paris.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Anthon continued to spend a few desultory hours in the fashionable studio behind the Madeleine.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
watering-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her uncle Sebastian had hinted, also, that the first sign of restlessness on her part would precipitate a move to Nice, or some other watering-place.
but in spite of that
From this reading Erard’s raillery made the work appear more futile than ever, yet the engagement was a convenient excuse.
