used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
coincidencenounUS /koʊˈɪnsɪdəns/
an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/
causing an emotional disturbance
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading It was a good explanation.
the organ of sight
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
foundationsnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
plural of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading It was a good explanation.
grandsonnounUS /ˈɡrændsʌn/
a male grandchild
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
GraysnounUS /ɡreɪz/
plural of “gray” — a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
hostsnounUS /hoʊsts/
plural of “host” — 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 Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
and nothing more
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
Kendrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
MatthewnounUS /ˈmæθjuː/
(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
a particular point in time
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
a form of address for a man
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
niecenounUS /niːs/
a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
quadrillenoun
music for dancing the quadrille
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
on the contrary
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
Roberta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/
diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the precise moment--he always afterward recalled it--when his heart gave its first great, disconcerting leap at sight of her, such a leap as he had never known could shake a man to the foundations.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Richard had just been received by his hosts and had turned from them to look about him, when his searching eye caught sight of the pair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading He had never seen precisely this Roberta before; he explained it to himself in that way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
at the time that
From this reading ROSES RED It was certainly rather a curious coincidence that when Mr. Matthew Kendrick and his grandson Richard entered upon the scene of the Grays' Christmas Eve party it should be at the moment when Mr. Rufus Gray and his niece Roberta were dancing a quadrille together.
