used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
DismayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmeɪd/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‘Pray do not interrupt me, Mademoiselle.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
helplesslyadverbUS /ˈhelpləsli/
in a helpless manner
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
interruptverbUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpt/
make a break in
From this reading ‘Pray do not interrupt me, Mademoiselle.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
Madeline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
MarquisnounUS /ˌmɑːrˈkiː/
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
From this reading ‘Pray do not interrupt me, Mademoiselle.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
with low volume
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
express in words
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading Dismayed at the unexpected encounter, Madeline gazed at the Englishman for a time in speechless confusion; then she turned her head and gazed helplessly around.
VauxnounUS /vɔːks/
United States landscape architect (born in England) who designed Central Park (1824-1895)
From this reading My friend, the Marquis de Vaux, has placed this affair entirely in my hands-----------’ ‘Oh, Monsieur!’
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Well, let me tell you I am here on an errand of duty, not pleasure.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading ‘Mademoiselle,’ said the young man, quietly, ‘I fear you are not prepared for this meeting with me.
