used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
having companions or an escort
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
BlakenounUS /bleɪk/
visionary British poet and painter (1757-1827)
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
Challoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading It was his last evening in England.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It was his last evening in England.
exchangingverbUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “exchange” — give to, and receive from, one another
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
FosterverbUS /ˈfɑːstər/
promote the growth of
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
set up or found
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
functionnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃən/
(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
jokesnounUS /dʒoʊks/
plural of “joke” — a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
Keith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
immediately past
From this reading It was his last evening in England.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
Millicent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
being perceived or observed
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
Sandymere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
deliver by singing
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
hard to endure
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading She sat next to Foster, and she found it hard to smile at his jokes; and she noticed that Blake was unusually quiet.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading LOVE AND VICTORY Millicent accompanied Mrs. Keith to Sandymere in a troubled mood; and dinner was a trying function.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
at the time that
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When they went into the drawing-room Challoner sat talking with her for a while, and then she was asked to sing.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading An hour passed before Blake had an opportunity for exchanging a word with her.
