used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
artificialitynoun
the quality of being produced by people and not occurring naturally
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
Barrison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
cordialitynoun
a cordial disposition
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
having the place or position changed
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I know it’s something.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
INCRIMINATINGadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkrɪməneɪtɪŋ/
charging or suggestive of guilt or blame
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I know it’s something.
KittynounUS /ˈkɪti/
the combined stakes of the betters
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading “I know it’s something.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
on one occasion
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
cut with a saw
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
smartlyadverbUS /ˈsmɑːrtli/
in a clever manner
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I know it’s something.
subduedadjectiveUS /səbˈduːd/
in a softened tone
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no artificiality about her now; she was disturbed, apprehensive.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
precisely as stated
From this reading AN INCRIMINATING LETTER Kitty looked very pretty and quite pathetic in her smartly simple mourning.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is it?” she said, in a low voice.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She saw Barrison at once, and received him with a subdued cordiality that was the perfection of good taste under the circumstances.
