used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
Barton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
bitternessnounUS /ˈbɪtərnəs/
a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
Collingwood's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
devoteverbUS /dɪˈvoʊt/
give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
having the place or position changed
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
fearful expectation or anticipation
From this reading Only one dread preyed upon her.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
entertainmentnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/
an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
gallingadjectiveUS /ˈɡɔːlɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
the act of retaining something
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
a social unit living together
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
inferencenounUS /ˈɪnfərəns/
the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
Kingsnorth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
mitigatedadjectiveUS /ˈmɪtəɡeɪtɪd/
made less severe or intense
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
observernounUS /əbˈzɜːrvər/
a person who becomes aware (of things or events) through the senses
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only one dread preyed upon her.
and nothing more
From this reading Only one dread preyed upon her.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
preyedverbUS /preɪd/
past form of “prey” — profit from in an exploitatory manner
From this reading Only one dread preyed upon her.
readinessnounUS /ˈredinəs/
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
tactnounUS /tækt/
consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Judge Barton managed to appear perfectly at ease, and she played her own part better than she had fancied that she could.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The thought was galling; but its bitterness was, for the time, mitigated by her sense of need.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The evening meal passed off more easily than had seemed possible to Mrs. Collingwood's disturbed imagination.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Only one dread preyed upon her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a readiness in Kingsnorth to devote himself to the entertainment of the guests, and a tact on his part in holding the household together which made her suspect that keen observer of a desire to aid her; and such a desire could only lead to the inference that he had, to some extent, grasped the situation.
