used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
arrangeverbUS /ərˈeɪndʒ/
put into a proper or systematic order
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
bowlnounUS /boʊl/
a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
bunchnounUS /bʌntʃ/
a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
Burchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
courtesynounUS /ˈkɜːrtəsi/
a courteous or respectful or considerate act
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
framesnounUS /freɪmz/
plural of “frame” — the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
something acquired without compensation
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
immediately past
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
Maud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Maud was plainly in a reticent mood.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading Maud was plainly in a reticent mood.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
quizzicaladjectiveUS /ˈkwɪzəkəl/
playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
reticentadjectiveUS /ˈretɪsənt/
temperamentally disinclined to talk
From this reading Maud was plainly in a reticent mood.
riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
Saltash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
TOKENnounUS /ˈtoʊkən/
an individual instance of a type of symbol
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
violetsnounUS /ˈvaɪələts/
plural of “violet” — any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Maud was plainly in a reticent mood.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The violets were straight from the Burchester frames, and he had ridden over to present them.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He sat on the corner of the table, swinging a careless leg the while under quizzical brows he watched Maud arrange a great bunch of violets in a bowl.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had accepted the gift indeed, but with somewhat distant courtesy.
wouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE TOKEN "Why wouldn’t you see me last night?" said Saltash.
