used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the state of being absent
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
accompanimentsnounUS /əˈkʌmpnɪmənts/
plural of “accompaniment” — an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
CinderellanounUS /ˌsɪndərˈelə/
a woman whose merits were not been recognized but who then achieves sudden success and recognition
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
EARLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
employer'snounUS /emˈplɔɪərz/
possessive form of “employer” — a person or firm that employs workers
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
energeticallyadverbUS /ˌenərˈdʒetɪkli/
in an energetic manner
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
engage in
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
not any; not one
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/
-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
resembledverbUS /rɪˈzembəld/
past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading I had slipped away from the drawing-room, where I had been playing accompaniments since dinner.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading My employer’s voice made me jump.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
in or at the place that
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a still hot night, following upon a day of breathless heat, and I was tired—in no mood for the dance for which Harry and his friends were now energetically preparing the room.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Like Cinderella, whom I often felt that I resembled, I was hoping to make good my escape before my absence was discovered.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‟MISS EARLE—do you know where the children are?”
