used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
(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 Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEANERY AND THE HALL.
approvalnounUS /əˈpruːvəl/
the formal act of approving
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
attractiveadjectiveUS /əˈtræktɪv/
pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
bright-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
brown-tanned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
the protruding part of the lower jaw
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
cursorilyadverb
without taking pains
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
DaphnenounUS /ˈdæfni/
any of several ornamental shrubs with shiny mostly evergreen leaves and clusters of small bell-shaped flowers
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
DEANERYnoun
the official residence of a dean
From this reading THE DEANERY AND THE HALL.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
decisively-cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
dog-cart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
EddyverbUS /ˈedi/
flow in a circular current, of liquids
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
opinion or judgment
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading THE DEANERY AND THE HALL.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
intenselyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtensli/
to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
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 Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
social deportment
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
come together
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
messyadjectiveUS /ˈmesi/
dirty and disorderly
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
off-handadverb
without preparation
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
a human being
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
quick-wittedadjective
mentally nimble and resourceful
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
on the contrary
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
selfishadjectiveUS /ˈselfɪʃ/
concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
spoiltadjective
having the character or disposition harmed by pampering or oversolicitous attention
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
stodgyadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːdʒi/
heavy and starchy and hard to digest
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
successive (without a break)
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
tailor-madenoun
custom-made clothing
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEANERY AND THE HALL.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
tweeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
unveiledadjectiveUS /ənˈveɪld/
revealed; especially by having a veil removed
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
precisely as stated
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Eddy was met at the station by his sister Daphne, driving the dog-cart.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Either people were “all right,” and “pretty decent,” or they were cursorily dismissed as “queer,” “messy,” or “stodgy.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading Daphne was twenty; a small, neat person in tailor-made tweeds, bright-haired, with an attractive brown-tanned face, and alert blue eyes, and a decisively-cut mouth, and long, straight chin.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading Daphne was off-hand, quick-witted, intensely practical, spoilt, rather selfish, very sure of herself, and with an unveiled youthful contempt for manners and people that failed to meet with her approval.
