1881
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
a quantity of money
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
apparatusnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəs/
equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/
expected hopefully
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
Britannicadjective
of Britain
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
cap-with-the-Siddons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
centeredadjectiveUS /ˈsentərd/
being or placed in the center
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
commemorateverbUS /kəˈmeməreɪt/
celebrate by some ceremony or observation
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
complaintnounUS /kəmˈpleɪnt/
an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
dishnounUS /dɪʃ/
a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
distinctadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋkt/
(often followed by “from”) not alike; different in nature or quality
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
Ex-Ambassador
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
GRANDMAMMA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
inmostadjective
being deepest within the self
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
King'snounUS /kɪŋz/
possessive form of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
Knebworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
laceverbUS /leɪs/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
loannounUS /loʊn/
the temporary provision of money (usually at interest)
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
Majesty'snounUS /ˈmædʒəstiz/
possessive form of “majesty” — impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
napnounUS /næp/
a period of time spent sleeping
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
not any; not one
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/
used of a height or viewpoint
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
ParadenounUS /pərˈeɪd/
a ceremonial procession including people marching
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
PersianounUS /ˈpɜːrʒə/
an empire in southern Asia created by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
a human being
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
recollectionnounUS /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/
the ability to recall past occurrences
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
RENEWSverbUS /rɪˈnuːz/
third-person singular of “renew” — reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
in or at or to some place
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
past form of “suffer” — undergo or be subjected to
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had come, it appeared, to thank Grandmamma personally for the loan of her apparatus, and to commemorate the amount of good it had already done the complaint from which they suffered in common.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sitting-room overlooking the sea was in the occupation of no less a person than His Britannic Majesty’s Ex-Ambassador to Persia.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
at the time that
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
which person or people
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS WHEN Philip and Mary returned to the King’s Parade with their inmost thoughts centered upon a dish of tea, a great surprise awaited them.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It happened that Grandmamma, like other old ladies who have moved in the world, could talk to a lord as well as most people if she happened to be in the humor.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Well, she had had a pretty good nap; the cap-with-the-Siddons’-lace was as straight as you please; and she had a distinct recollection of having met the Ex-Ambassador at Knebworth somewhere about the year 1881.
