used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
AustinnounUS /ˈɔːstən/
state capital of Texas on the Colorado River; site of the University of Texas
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
the two together, not just one
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a game played with playing cards
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
circlesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəlz/
plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
courtedverbUS /ˈkɔːrtɪd/
past form of “court” — make amorous advances towards
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
d'Este
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
Duvall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
set up or found
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
luckilyadverbUS /ˈlʌkəli/
by good fortune
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
a female domestic
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
nervouslyadverbUS /ˈnɜːrvəsli/
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
on one occasion
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
Phelps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
prioradjectiveUS /ˈpraɪər/
earlier in time
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Grace Duvall arrived at the house of the American Minister at about half-past five, and luckily found him at home.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money
From this reading That he should know her, at least by name, was not at all surprising--her aunt, prior to her marriage to Count d'Este, had been much courted on account of both her beauty and her wealth.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The card she had given to the servant was one of her own--in fact, she remembered with a smile that her marriage to Richard Duvall but a few hours before had so filled her mind and heart that she had completely forgotten to have any cards prepared setting forth her new estate.
showing curiosity
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She waited in the handsome drawing-room to which she had been conducted, nervously wondering what the nature of her reception would be.
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 From the maid at the hotel she had learned that his name was Phelps, Austin Phelps, and she at once recognized it as that of a lawyer prominent in business and social circles in New York.
