adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
acknowledgedadjectiveUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒd/
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
BESTnounUS /best/
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
cottagenounUS /ˈkɑːtədʒ/
a small house with a single story
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
desiresnounUS /dɪˈzaɪərz/
plural of “desire” — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
devilnounUS /ˈdevəl/
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
fatadjectiveUS /fæt/
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
harmlessadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːrmləs/
not causing or capable of causing harm
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
hatnounUS /hæt/
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
indirectlyadverbUS /ˌɪndərˈektliː/
not in a forthright manner
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/
a search for knowledge
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
InsteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
LeavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
luncheonnounUS /ˈlʌntʃən/
a midday meal
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
mistressnounUS /ˈmɪstrəs/
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
presencenounUS /ˈprezəns/
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
reproved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
resentingverbUS /rɪˈzentɪŋ/
-ing form of “resent” — feel bitter or indignant about
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
respectfuladjectiveUS /rɪˈspektfəl/
full of or exhibiting respect
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
respectfullyadverbUS /rɪˈspektfəli/
in a respectful manner
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
rudeadjectiveUS /ruːd/
socially incorrect in behavior
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
saluteverbUS /səˈluːt/
propose a toast to
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
SOCIETYnounUS /səˈsaɪəti/
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
stranger'snounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/
possessive form of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
tellverbUS /tel/
express in words
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
thoroughbrednounUS /ˈθɜːroʊˈbred/
a well-bred person
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
unciviladjectiveUS /ənˈsɪvəl/
lacking civility or good manners
From this reading Instead of resenting this uncivil language, he indirectly reproved me by becoming more respectful than ever.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I was in the presence of a thoroughbred English servant--and I had failed to discover it until he spoke of his mistress!
waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading "My mistress desires me to tell you, sir, that luncheon is waiting."
wantverbUS /wɑːnt/
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE BEST SOCIETY Leaving the cottage for the second time, I was met at the door by a fat man of solemn appearance dressed in black, who respectfully touched his hat.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading My angry humor acknowledged the harmless stranger's salute by a rude inquiry: "What the devil do you want?"
