used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/
be present or associated with an event or entity
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
applyverbUS /əˈplaɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
arrangementsnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənts/
plural of “arrangement” — the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
Conservatoirenoun
a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
Darbois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
Esperance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
a social unit living together
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
François
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
a social unit living together
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
humiliatingadjectiveUS /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/
causing awareness of your shortcomings
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
engage in
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
absolutely essential
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
a human being
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
refusalsnounUS /rɪˈfjuːzəlz/
plural of “refusal” — the act of refusing
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading For the first time in her life Madame Darbois had to endure humiliating refusals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It became necessary to make several new arrangements.
undertakeverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪk/
enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Esperance having chosen the stage as her career, the whole household was more or less thrown into confusion.
a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading As François Darbois was not willing that his wife should accompany Esperance every day to the Conservatoire, it became quite a problem to find a suitable person to undertake this duty.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young widow of an officer was directed by a friend of the family to apply.
