used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
abstractedadjectiveUS /ˈæbstræktɪd/
lost in thought; showing preoccupation
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
captivenounUS /ˈkæptɪv/
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
chafing-dish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
conveyedverbUS /kənˈveɪd/
past form of “convey” — (of information) make known; pass on
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
cubenounUS /kjuːb/
a hexahedron with six equal squares as faces
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
Despencer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
divisible by two
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
gildedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪldɪd/
having the deep slightly brownish color of gold
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
the act of giving
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
marchionessnounUS /ˈmɑːrʃənɪs/
the wife or widow of a marquis
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
marchioness's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
meditated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
mournfuladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrnfəl/
expressing sorrow
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
muffinnounUS /ˈmʌfən/
a sweet quick bread baked in a cup-shaped pan
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
nibbledverbUS /ˈnɪbəld/
past form of “nibble” — bite off very small pieces
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
not any; not one
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading Even you are but a bird of paradise held captive in a gilded cage.”
a separate part of a whole
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
porcelainnounUS /ˈpɔːrsələn/
ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
precisely, exactly
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
sea-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
sugarnounUS /ˈʃʊɡər/
a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
thinnessnounUS /ˈθɪnnɪs/
relatively small dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
three-corneredadjective
having three corners
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
transparencynounUS /trænˈsperənsi/
permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
traynounUS /treɪ/
an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
treadmillnounUS /ˈtredmɪl/
an exercise device consisting of an endless belt on which a person can walk or jog without changing place
From this reading We are no better off than prisoners on the treadmill.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “After all,” sighed the marchioness, as she conveyed a three-cornered piece of muffin from the silver chafing-dish to her mouth, and nibbled delicately at one of the corners--“after all, what are we but slaves of society?”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
a Caucasian
From this reading Mr. Despencer extended a hand almost as white and slender as the marchioness’s own, and abstracted a small cube of sugar from the porcelain basin, of the thinness and transparency of a sea-shell, on the marchioness’s silver tray, while he meditated a becoming response.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Yes,” he exclaimed, giving his head a slow, mournful movement from side to side, “you are right.
