used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
acquiescedverbUS /ˌækwiˈest/
past form of “acquiesce” — to agree or express agreement
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
adequateadjectiveUS /ˈædəkwət/
having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
aghastadjectiveUS /əˈɡæst/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
Aldrich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
allayedverbUS /əˈleɪd/
past form of “allay” — lessen the intensity of or calm
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/
the thing arranged or agreed to
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
comparativeadjectiveUS /kəmˈperətɪv/
relating to or based on or involving comparison
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/
forced or compelled or put in force
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
divisible by two
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
every person
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
accept an excuse for
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
EXPERIMENTnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
a social unit living together
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
Frederica's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
largelyadverbUS /ˈlɑːrdʒli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
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 Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
narrownessnounUS /ˈneroʊnəs/
the property of being narrow; having little width
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
Portia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
on the contrary
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
recentnessnoun
a time immediately before the present
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
resourcesnounUS /ˈriːsɔːrsɪz/
plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
RODNEY'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading Indeed, the notion of even a simple wedding into the Aldrich family left Portia rather aghast.
Stantons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
strictlyadverbUS /ˈstrɪktli/
restricted to something
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The recentness of the death of Rodney's mother gave an adequate excuse for such an arrangement, but the comparative narrowness of the Stantons' domestic resources enforced it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this feeling was largely allayed by Frederica's first call.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And the decision, instantly acquiesced in by everybody, was that it was to be as quiet--as strictly a family affair--as possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading RODNEY'S EXPERIMENT The wedding was set for the first week in June.
