used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
averageadjectiveUS /ˈævərɪdʒ/
approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
barredadjectiveUS /bɑːrd/
preventing entry or exit or a course of action
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
contradictionsnounUS /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃənz/
plural of “contradiction” — opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
DIPLOMACYnounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/
negotiation between nations
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
divisible by two
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
at any time
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
governednounUS /ˈɡʌvərnd/
the body of people who are citizens of a particular government
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
hangingsnounUS /ˈhæŋɡɪŋz/
plural of “hanging” — decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
a unit of instruction
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
moodsnounUS /muːdz/
plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
not any; not one
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
nobleradjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblər/
comparative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
and nothing more
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
Plessis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
prayedverbUS /preɪd/
past form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
rarelyadverbUS /ˈrerli/
not often
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “reign” — have sovereign power
From this reading France had had kings who prayed, kings who fought, kings who reigned, but rarely a king who governed.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
in or at that place or location
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
veinnounUS /veɪn/
a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A LESSON IN DIPLOMACY Before ever I had set foot in Plessis I had been warned that Louis was a man of many moods, many contradictions.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
which person or people
From this reading Some of these sides of character I had already seen, but now a new, and at times a nobler vein, was brought to the surface; I was to see the King who governed.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading These were wider than the average in Plessis but were so fast barred that the power of the sun was greatly broken even though there were no hangings to shut out the heat.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The apartment at the end of which we stood was long, narrow, and lofty, with windows only to the south.
