used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
bulliedverbUS /ˈbʊlid/
inflected form of “bully” — be bossy towards
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
Elles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
divisible by two
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
flatteringadjectiveUS /ˈflætərɪŋ/
showing or representing to advantage
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
a female domestic
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
niente
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
parlournounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
Poynder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
urbanelyadverb
in an urbane manner
From this reading “Mary,” Mrs. Elles said urbanely, “come and help me!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She knew what she had to do.
which person or people
From this reading It was the cook who answered it, not the new parlour maid.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She composed her features and covered them with powder, and rang the bell.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The cook, whom Mrs. Poynder worked hard and bullied, was in consequence a firm ally of the young and far niente mistress of the house, who preferred pleasant and flattering looks even to good service.
