used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
abatingverbUS /əˈbeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “abate” — make less active or intense
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
accommodatedverbUS /əˈkɑːmədeɪtɪd/
past form of “accommodate” — be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
ACQUET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
agentsnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənts/
plural of “agent” — an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
(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 She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
any thing at all
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
chateaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
an impressive country house (or castle) in France
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
Combray's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
confederatesnounUS /kənˈfedərəts/
plural of “confederate” — a supporter of the Confederate States of America
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
carefully weighed
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
despoticadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɑːtɪk/
belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
fellow-prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
ten 10s
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
illusionsnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒənz/
plural of “illusion” — an erroneous mental representation
From this reading Her very illusions remained intact.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
ingenuousadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʒenjuːəs/
characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
intactadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtækt/
constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged
From this reading Her very illusions remained intact.
isolationnounUS /ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/
a state of separation between persons or groups
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
the literary culture
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
Licquet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
Marquisenoun
a noblewoman ranking below a duchess and above a countess
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
not any; not one
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
and nothing more
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
approval to do something
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Her very illusions remained intact.
SeclusionnounUS /sɪˈkluːʒən/
the quality of being secluded from the presence or view of others
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
softenedadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːfənd/
toned down
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
not in physical motion
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
trapnounUS /træp/
a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
a source of difficulty
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
the act of using
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
feelings of excessive pride
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
precisely as stated
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading MADAME ACQUET Seclusion, isolation and trouble had in no way softened the Marquise de Combray's harsh nature.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading From the very first day, this woman, accustomed to living in a chateau, had accommodated herself to the life of a prisoner without abating anything of her haughty and despotic character.
produce a literary work
From this reading She imagined that from her cell she still directed her confederates and agents, whom she considered one and all as servants, never suspecting that the permission to write letters, of which she made such bad use, was only a trap set for her ingenuous vanity.
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading In less than a month she had written more than a hundred letters to her fellow-prisoners, which all passed through Licquet's hands.
