used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
(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 All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
disposed or placed in a particular kind of order
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
Dennistoun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
down-stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
Elinor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
moving swiftly
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
intervalnounUS /ˈɪntərvəl/
a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
immediately past
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
a particular point in time
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
absolutely essential
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
on one occasion
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
precariousadjectiveUS /priˈkeriəs/
affording no ease or reassurance
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
preparationsnounUS /ˌprepərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “preparation” — the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
refrain from harming
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
superintendverb
watch and direct
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
Tatham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And now the last morning had come.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Elinor was not allowed to come down-stairs to help, as she felt it would be natural to do.
wedding-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
which person or people
From this reading It was Mary Tatham who arranged the flowers on the table, and helped Dennistoun to superintend everything.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading All the women in the house, though they were so busy, were devoted at every spare moment to the service of Elinor.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The morning of a wedding-day is a flying and precarious moment which seems at once as if it never would end, and as if it were a hurried preliminary interval in which the necessary preparations never could be done.
