used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
any thing at all
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
believernounUS /bəˈliːvər/
a supporter who accepts something as true
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
clothing in general
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
ConsequentlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwəntli/
(sentence connectors) because of the reason given
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
the specified day of the month
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
heatingnounUS /ˈhiːtɪŋ/
the process of becoming warmer; a rising temperature
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading The three women huddled round it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
free from evil or guilt
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
innovationsnounUS /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “innovation” — a creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The three women huddled round it.
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
magnetnounUS /ˈmæɡnət/
(physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The three women huddled round it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
temperaturenounUS /ˈtemprətʃər/
the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment (corresponding to its molecular activity)
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The three women huddled round it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Abbey was innocent of anything so up to date as central heating.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AFTER DINNER George was not a believer in modern innovations.
well-burnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire that burnt in the well-burnished steel grate became as a magnet.
at the time that
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
woefullyadverbUS /ˈwoʊfəli/
in an unfortunate or deplorable manner
From this reading Consequently, when the ladies entered the drawing-room after dinner, the temperature of the room was woefully inadequate to the needs of modern evening clothes.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The three women huddled round it.
