used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
how long something has existed
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
apologiesnounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiːz/
plural of “apology” — an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The other two are Robert and Jane.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
babiesnounUS /ˈbeɪbiz/
plural of “baby” — a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
bibnounUS /bɪb/
top part of an apron; covering the chest
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
Blanton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
a youthful male person
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
candlesnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
cellaretnoun
sideboard with compartments for holding bottles
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/
patterned with alternating squares of color
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
contritelyadverb
in a rueful manner
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
the child of your aunt or uncle
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/
the act of eating dinner
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
exasperatedadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪtɪd/
greatly annoyed; out of patience
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
set up or found
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
fussingverbUS /ˈfʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “fuss” — worry unnecessarily or excessively
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
ginghamnounUS /ˈɡɪŋəm/
a clothing fabric in a plaid weave
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
a young female
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
graciouslyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪʃəsli/
in a gracious or graceful manner
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
hostessnounUS /ˈhoʊstəs/
a woman host
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other two are Robert and Jane.”
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
set afire or burning
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
mahoganynounUS /məˈhɑːɡəni/
wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
noddingadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːdɪŋ/
having branches or flower heads that bend downward
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
obviouslyadverbUS /ˈɑːbviəsli/
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
not divisible by two
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The other two are Robert and Jane.”
PelhamnounUS /ˈpeləm/
a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
pinningnounUS /ˈpɪnɪŋ/
a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)
From this reading The other two are Robert and Jane.”
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
Identical; not different.
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
tallownounUS /ˈtæloʊ/
obtained from suet and used in making soap, candles and lubricants
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This is Gertrude,” said Mrs. Blanton, after my apologies had been contritely offered and graciously accepted by Cousin Pelham, “and that,” nodding to a little boy of the same age, “is John.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
traysnounUS /treɪz/
plural of “tray” — an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The other two are Robert and Jane.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
at the time that
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the dining room, which was lighted by tallow candles, I found an obviously exasperated host and hostess.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading When I entered Cousin Pelham was fussing about a mahogany cellaret, while Mrs. Blanton was pinning a bib of checked gingham round the neck of a little girl in a high chair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With my English ideas of bringing up children, I thought it an odd custom to have the row of high chairs and trays at the table, and to allow such mere babies to appear at the evening meal.
