used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
acmenounUS /ˈækmi/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
in addition
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
bestowedverbUS /bɪˈstoʊd/
past form of “bestow” — present
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
black-garbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
not characterized by emotion
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
clothedadjectiveUS /kloʊðd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
ConfoundverbUS /kɑːnˈfaʊnd/
be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
discomfortnounUS /dɪˈskʌmfərt/
the state of being tense and feeling pain
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
operate or control a vehicle
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
fianceenounUS /fiˈænsi/
a woman who is engaged to be married
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading FLIGHT!
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
funerealadjective
suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
garmentsnounUS /ˈɡɑːrmənts/
plural of “garment” — an article of clothing
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
Great-auntnoun
an aunt of your father or mother
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
Isobel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
kissesnounUS /ˈkɪsəz/
plural of “kiss” — the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
limousinenounUS /ˈlɪməziːn/
large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
involving the mind or an intellectual process
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
NannounUS /næn/
your grandmother
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading A minute later the car and its black-garbed occupants disappeared down the drive.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
Rachel'snounUS /ˈreɪtʃəlz/
possessive form of “rachel” — (Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
respectiveadjectiveUS /rɪˈspektɪv/
considered individually
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
Roger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
son'snounUS /sʌnz/
possessive form of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
tienounUS /taɪ/
neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Lady Gertrude bestowed one of her chilly kisses upon her son's fiancee and stepped into the car, Isobel followed, and Roger, with a muttered: "Confound Great-aunt Rachel's fortune!" brought up the rear.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
at the time that
From this reading The big limousine was already at the door when Lady Gertrude and Isobel, clothed from head to foot in sombre black, descended from their respective rooms.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Roger, also clad in the same funereal hue and wearing a black tie--and looking as though his garments afforded him the acme of mental discomfort--stood waiting for them, together with Nan, in the hall.
