used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
having companions or an escort
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
anew
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
CyrilnounUS /ˈsɪrəl/
Greek missionary; the invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is attributed to him (826-869)
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
Cyril's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
Dardania
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
denseadjectiveUS /dens/
permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
the act of departing
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
escortingverbUS /ˈeskɔːrtɪŋ/
-ing form of “escort” — accompany as an escort
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
helpingnounUS /ˈhelpɪŋ/
an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
not in action or at work
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
past form of “insist” — be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
involveverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlv/
connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
in order that something should not happen
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
Lida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
not any; not one
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
Philippa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
Philippa's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
rudelyadverbUS /ˈruːdli/
in an impolite manner
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
singularlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələrli/
in a singular manner or to a singular degree
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
that is looked for
From this reading Cyril’s presence had not been sought by his niece.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He insisted that he had nothing particular to do, and could find no more delightful employment for an idle hour than escorting his niece to the villa.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
toilsnounUS /tɔɪlz/
plural of “toil” — productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
From this reading In fact, poor Philippa, terrified lest she should be helping to involve him in the toils of the Princess of Dardania, had assured him plainly, almost rudely, that she preferred to go by herself.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
at the time that
From this reading But Cyril could be singularly dense when he chose.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A week had passed since Philippa’s departure from the villa before she entered it again, accompanied by her uncle, to spend the day with Princess Lida.
