used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
Agatha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
catechising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
relating to or characteristic of Christianity
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/
of persons; not subject to change
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
an opposing military force
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
Firs-Robinsons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
gossipnounUS /ˈɡɑːsəp/
light informal conversation for social occasions
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
Greatorex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
ladylikeadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdilaɪk/
befitting a woman of good breeding
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
immediately past
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
loungingverbUS /ˈlaʊndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “lounge” — sit or recline comfortably
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
engage in
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
neighboursnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
information about recent and important events
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
nobodiesnounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiːz/
plural of “nobody” — a person of no influence
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
out-at-elbows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
To-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The way she looked at it was far more Christian--she said "she took a kindly interest in her neighbours."
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
precisely as stated
From this reading To-day her interest was particularly strong, if not very kindly; and she was now, from the depths of her low lounging chair, catechising Agatha about the dance last night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Mrs. Greatorex was, in a ladylike sort of way, a confirmed gossip.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
which person or people
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
but in spite of that
From this reading She was always very keen about any news that concerned the Firs-Robinsons, who were really nobodies, whilst she--- Her grandfather had been an earl--out-at-elbows, it was true, but yet an earl.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To have told her so personally would have been to make her your enemy for life.
