used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
the state of being absent
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
apologizedverbUS /əˈpɑːlədʒaɪzd/
past form of “apologize” — acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
Ballard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
comelyadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmli/
according with custom or propriety
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
recognizable; marked
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
EmergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
FabianadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪbiən/
of or relating to Fabianism
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
Fabians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
set up or found
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
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 A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
a female domestic
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
misunderstandingnounUS /ˌmɪsəndərˈstændɪŋ/
putting the wrong interpretation on
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
a form of address for a man
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
not any; not one
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was but four o'clock, and he decided to go to the Ballard apartment and attend to his errand there.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
pressingnounUS /ˈpresɪŋ/
the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
except for; apart from
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
SIDNEYnounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
in or at that place or location
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
toiletnounUS /ˈtɔɪlət/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading A comely maid apologized for the absence of her mistress, saying that Mr. Sidney had not been expected until the following day; and showing him to his room she left him to his own devices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
at the time that
From this reading When he arrived, however, and announced himself at the house, through some misunderstanding there was no one there to receive him save the servants.
in the company of; together with
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
but in spite of that
From this reading Emerging from his bath and toilet, he found Mrs. Fabian not yet returned.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading PHILIP SIDNEY The Fabians had given Philip Sidney a pressing invitation to spend his first week in New York with them.
