used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
acceptingadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪŋ/
tolerating without protest
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
Akira
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
alacritynounUS /əˈlækrəti/
liveliness and eagerness
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
eagerly desirous
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
Beckleigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
betrayverbUS /bɪˈtreɪ/
reveal unintentionally
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
Colpster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
ConsequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
conservativeadjectiveUS /kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/
resistant to change, particularly in relation to politics or religion
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
cordialadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
diffusing warmth and friendliness
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
greatly pleased
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
a social unit living together
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
festivitiesnounUS /feˈstɪvətiz/
plural of “festivity” — any joyous diversion
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
hospitableadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːˈspɪtəbəl/
favorable to life and growth
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/
the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
go away from a place
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
having official authority or sanction
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
old-fashionedadjectiveUS /ˌoʊldˈfæʃənd/
out of fashion
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
and nothing more
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
postponedverbUS /poʊstˈpoʊnd/
past form of “postpone” — hold back to a later time
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
Squire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
statedadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtɪd/
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Consequently there was only a family party present at the Christmas festivities.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Mr. Colpster, being of a conservative nature, always kept these up in an old-fashioned, hospitable style.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Count Akira was indeed anxious to visit Beckleigh, he certainly did not betray much alacrity in accepting the Squire's cordial invitation.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Official business, he stated, would keep him employed during the next few weeks, and he would be unable to leave his chief.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
produce a literary work
From this reading He did write to the effect that he would be delighted to come, but postponed his arrival until the second week in January.
