used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
Allan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
Beaumerville's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
broughamnounUS /ˈbruːɡəm/
light carriage; pulled by a single horse
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Could he take her name?"
denouementnounUS /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɑːn/
the outcome of a complex sequence of events
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
dubiousadjectiveUS /ˈduːbiəs/
fraught with uncertainty or doubt
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
footmannounUS /ˈfʊtmən/
a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Could he take her name?"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Could he take her name?"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
a form of address for a man
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Could he take her name?"
not any; not one
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
rungnounUS /rʌŋ/
a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
cut with a saw
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
term of address for a man
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
carry out
From this reading Could he take her name?"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
in or at that place or location
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
Thurwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had rung the bell and inquired for Miss Thurwell.
Thurwell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
unwelladjectiveUS /ənˈwel/
somewhat ill or prone to illness
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading INNOCENT An hour or two before the _denouement_ of Sir Allan Beaumerville's supper party, his brougham had driven up to Mr. Thurwell's town house, and had set down a lady there.
plural of “visitor” — someone who visits
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Miss Thurwell was in, certainly, but she was unwell and saw no visitors, and it was late.
which person or people
From this reading The footman who answered the door looked dubious.
