used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
BrownenounUS /braʊn/
English illustrator of several of Dickens' novels (1815-1882)
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
Brownes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
CalcuttanounUS /ˌkælˈkʌtə/
the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
without doubt or question
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
dearly loved
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
discussedverbUS /dɪˈskʌst/
past form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
Drawing-Room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
Excellency's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
a boy or man
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
fulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
levées
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
with speed
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
residentadjectiveUS /ˈrezɪdənt/
living in a particular place
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
that's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
tum-tum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was clearly impossible to attend Her Excellency’s Drawing-Room in a tum-tum.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Brownes discussed it with fulness and precision at some length.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading “It might get wound up in the wheels, or Lord knows what.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Most people resident in Calcutta would have arrived at this conclusion more rapidly; but as young Browne said, he had never taken a wife to a Drawing-Room before, and a fellow always went to the levées in his tum-tum.
the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to
From this reading “It’s that awful silk tail of yours that’s the difficulty, dear,” said he.
