used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
baronessnounUS /ˈberənɪs/
a noblewoman who holds the rank of baron or who is the wife or widow of a baron
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
Bernat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
compactnounUS /ˈkɑːmpækt/
a small cosmetics case with a mirror; to be carried in a woman's purse
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
dinner-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
one or the other of two
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
elegancenounUS /ˈeləɡəns/
a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
divisible by two
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
gemsnounUS /dʒemz/
plural of “gem” — art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
HerrnounUS /her/
a German man; used before the name as a title equivalent to Mr in English
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
huenounUS /hjuː/
the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
the sound of laughing
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
maskverbUS /mæsk/
hide under a false appearance
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
mindfuladjectiveUS /ˈmaɪndfəl/
bearing in mind; attentive to
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
not any; not one
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
many times at short intervals
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
ornamentationnounUS /ˌɔːrnəmenˈteɪʃən/
the state of being ornamented
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
pearlsnounUS /pɜːrlz/
plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
represented accurately or precisely
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
except for; apart from
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
servesnounUS /sɜːrvz/
plural of “serve” — (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
signifiednounUS /ˈsɪɡnəfaɪd/
the meaning of a word or expression; the way in which a word or expression or situation can be interpreted
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
and nothing more
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
sombreadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
sorrowfuladjectiveUS /ˈsɑːroʊfəl/
experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The sombre hue of her gown signified mourning; the gems represented tears; but her manner was by no means in keeping with either; she was cheerful, even gay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
thee-and-thou
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
an old word for “your”, speaking to one person
From this reading "Thy place is here by my side," said the baroness, mindful of the "thee-and-thou" compact with Herr Bernat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
precisely as stated
From this reading But laughter very often serves to mask a sorrowful heart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
at the time that
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading She wore a plain black silk gown, with no other ornamentation save the string of genuine pearls about her throat.
but in spite of that
From this reading When the baroness appeared at the dinner-table, she was attired simply, yet with a certain elegance.
