used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
in actual fact
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
(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 Francesco Marucci is a friend of all the English."
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
evasionnounUS /ɪˈveɪʒən/
a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
Francesco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Francesco Marucci is a friend of all the English."
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Francesco Marucci is a friend of all the English."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
Marucci
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Francesco Marucci is a friend of all the English."
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
a person who carries a message
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
MortimernounUS /ˈmɔːrtɪmər/
English nobleman who deposed Edward II and was executed by Edward III (1287-1330)
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Francesco Marucci is a friend of all the English."
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
past-master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
signorenounUS /siˈnjɔːreɪ/
an Italian title of respect for a man; equivalent to the English “sir”; used separately (not prefixed to his name)
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
Signorinanoun
an Italian courtesy title for an unmarried woman; equivalent to “Miss”, it is either used alone or before a name
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
signorina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "As I have already explained to the signore, I am but the signorina's messenger," he declared, in a tone which showed him to be a past-master in the art of evasion.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "The Signorina Mortimer is an English signorina whom I have known a long time.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But in this matter you are actually working against the efforts of your own department."
