used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
(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 “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
diplomaticadjectiveUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/
relating to or characteristic of diplomacy
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
one or the other of two
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
embroiderynounUS /emˈbrɔɪdəri/
elaboration of an interpretation by the use of decorative (sometimes fictitious) detail
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
well known or easily recognized
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
start firing a weapon
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
activities that are enjoyable or amusing
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
hearernounUS /ˈhiːrər/
someone who listens attentively
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Is that your idea--or his?”
where you live at a particular time
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “Is that your idea--or his?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
intonationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/
rise and fall of the voice pitch
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is that your idea--or his?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
Jennie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
Jennie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
LydianounUS /ˈlɪdiə/
an ancient region on the coast of western Asia Minor; a powerful kingdom until conquered by the Persians in 546 BC
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
engage in
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
mamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/
informal terms for a mother
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
nervously-spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
observantadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvənt/
paying close attention especially to details
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
premeditatedadjectiveUS /priˈmedəteɪtɪd/
characterized by deliberate purpose and some degree of planning
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
on the contrary
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
Roland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
stitchingnounUS /ˈstɪtʃɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
up to a particular time
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
very small
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
underwearnounUS /ˈʌndərwer/
undergarment worn next to the skin and under the outer garments
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
war'snounUS /wɔːrz/
possessive form of “war” — the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They went into the drawing-room in silence.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
at the time that
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When they were seated on either side of the fire, Jennie with empty hands and Lydia stitching at the embroidery on some of Jennie’s new underwear, Jennie suddenly spoke.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was never diplomatic, poor Jennie, and a far less acute hearer, and one much less familiar with her every intonation than was the observant Lydia, would have known that her hasty, nervously-spoken speech was premeditated.
Wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Wouldn’t it be rather fun, in a way--as I can’t have a proper home of our own with Roland till the war’s over--for me to find a tiny flat or something in London, and make it all nice and live in it, and--and you come up and stay with me, mama, when you want a day or two in London?”
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Is that your idea--or his?”
