used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
put or send forth
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
concealingnounUS /kənˈsiːlɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
dearly loved
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
let fall to the ground
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
at any time
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
FaustnounUS /faʊst/
an alchemist of German legend who sold his soul to Mephistopheles in exchange for knowledge
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
improvedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvd/
made more desirable or valuable or profitable; especially made ready for use or marketing
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
Juliet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
lady'snounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
Mephistophelesnoun
evil spirit to whom Faust sold his soul
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
as might be expected
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
RomeonounUS /ˈroʊmioʊ/
an ardent male lover
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
Stirling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
precisely as stated
From this reading The dear old lady's sight had failed since "Romeo and Juliet," but she was very clever at concealing it.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The original cast of "Faust" was never improved upon.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What Martha was ever so good as Mrs. Stirling?
at the time that
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
which person or people
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I never knew why she dropped it--she used to do it so naturally with a start when Mephistopheles knocked at the door--until one night when it was in my way and I picked it up, to the confusion of poor Mrs. Stirling, who nearly walked into the orchestra.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading When she let Mephistopheles in at the door, she used to drop her work on the floor so that she could find her way back to her chair.
