used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
abackadverbUS /əˈbæk/
having the wind against the forward side of the sails
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
(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 We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
make certain of
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
(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 "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
BrittnounUS /brɪt/
the young of a herring or sprat or similar fish
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
put on clothes
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
elegancenounUS /ˈeləɡəns/
a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
a social unit living together
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
gallantlyadverbUS /ˈɡæləntli/
in a gallant manner
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
gladlyadverbUS /ˈɡlædli/
in a willing manner
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
gratifiedadjectiveUS /ˈɡrætəfaɪd/
having received what was desired
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
and nothing more
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
promptlyadverbUS /ˈprɑːmptli/
with little or no delay
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
on the contrary
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
RicenounUS /raɪs/
grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
From this reading "Nothing could be better for me, Mrs. Rice, I assure you," he answered, gallantly.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He really looked distinguished, and she rather hastily explained, "Our dinner is only a family affair, Dr. Britt.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Kate received him gladly, but was taken aback by his languid elegance of manner.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
be dressed in
From this reading * * * * * Britt came to dinner promptly, gratified for a chance to wear his evening dress.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading We wanted to have you all to ourselves."
