used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
absorptionnounUS /əbˈzɔːrpʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one substance permeates another; a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid
From this reading She wondered a little at his absorption.
acquaintancesnounUS /əˈkweɪntənsɪz/
plural of “acquaintance” — personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
bachelornounUS /ˈbætʃələr/
a man who has never been married
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
Billy'snounUS /ˈbɪliz/
possessive form of “billy” — a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
devicesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪsəz/
an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase “left to your own devices”
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
divertedadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
dragoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
Emma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
escortnounUS /eˈskɔːrt/
someone who escorts and protects a prominent person
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
divisible by two
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
FalconernounUS /ˈfælkənər/
a person who breeds and trains hawks and who follows the sport of falconry
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
fitfullyadverbUS /ˈfɪtfəli/
in a fitful manner
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
a young female
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She wondered a little at his absorption.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She wondered a little at his absorption.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
used to form the superlative
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
mousenounUS /maʊs/
any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Not much was said.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not much was said.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
opportuneadjectiveUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːn/
suitable or at a time that is suitable or advantageous especially for a particular purpose
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
RamesesnounUS /ˈræməsiːz/
any of 12 kings of ancient Egypt between 1315 and 1090 BC
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Not much was said.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wondered a little at his absorption.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
slantverbUS /slænt/
lie obliquely
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
not in physical motion
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
strayingadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪɪŋ/
unable to find your way
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not much was said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE BETTER MAN Down in the court of Rameses, Lady Claire and Hill were straying.
which person or people
From this reading Claire, who had been fitfully gay all afternoon, grew still as a church mouse now as they paced back and forth in the shadows, stealing a slant glance from time to time at Billy's set and silent face.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading She wondered a little at his absorption.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A most opportune old bachelor, passing with a party of acquaintances, had diverted even Emma Falconer from her dragoning, and the young English girl and her American escort were left for the time to their own devices.
