used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
answeringadjectiveUS /ˈænsərɪŋ/
replying
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
appeasedverbUS /əˈpiːzd/
past form of “appease” — cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
committeesnounUS /kəˈmɪtiz/
plural of “committee” — a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
FridaynounUS /ˈfraɪdi/
the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
death of a person
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
the literary culture
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
Majendie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
being perceived or observed
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
organisernoun
someone who enlists workers to join a union
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
preoccupationnounUS /priˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
established beyond doubt
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
societiesnounUS /səˈsaɪətiz/
plural of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading She had always had great practical ability; she had proved herself a good organiser, expert in the business of societies and committees.
sortingnounUS /ˈsɔːrtɪŋ/
an operation that segregates items into groups according to a specified criterion
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In her preoccupation she had not noticed that her husband had left the house, and that he did not return to it.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The trouble in her was appeased by the answering of letters, the sorting of papers, the bringing of order into confusion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the morning, as she left her room, the old nurse came to her with a grave face, and took her into Majendie's room.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Anne, left alone at her writing-table, had worked on far into Friday night.
