used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading Julien was taken a little aback.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
bluntlyadverbUS /ˈblʌntli/
in a blunt direct manner
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
Christophor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
CRISISnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
dineverbUS /daɪn/
have supper; eat dinner
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
set up or found
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
frownedverbUS /fraʊnd/
past form of “frown” — look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
Julien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
set down according to a plan
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Julien was taken a little aback.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
NEARINGverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
and nothing more
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
salonnounUS /səˈlɑːn/
gallery where works of art can be displayed
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
smalleradjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːlər/
small or little relative to something else
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
having a supporting base
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Julien was taken a little aback.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading NEARING A CRISIS That night, for the first time since his arrival in the house as a guest, Julien dined downstairs.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
at the time that
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To his surprise, when he presented himself in the smaller salon to which he had been directed, he found the table laid for two only.
which person or people
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
winter-garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Christophor, who was standing on the threshold of the winter-garden opening out from the apartment, read his expression and frowned.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You expected Lady Anne to dine?" she asked bluntly.
