used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
apologiesnounUS /əˈpɑːlədʒiːz/
plural of “apology” — an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
chivalrouslyadverb
in a gallant manner
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
rid of obstructions
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
comicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪk/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
CONTAINSverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/
third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
without stop or interruption
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
defectsnounUS /ˈdiːfekts/
plural of “defect” — an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
excellenciesnounUS /ˈekˈslensiz/
plural of “excellency” — a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by “Your” or “His” or “Her”
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
excessnounUS /ˈekses/
a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
forethoughtnounUS /ˈfɔːrθɔːt/
planning or plotting in advance of acting
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
grinsnounUS /ɡrɪnz/
plural of “grin” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
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 CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
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 CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
ill-repressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
lassnounUS /læs/
a girl or young woman who is unmarried
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
notableadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəbəl/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
in the near future
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
established beyond doubt
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
spectatornounUS /ˈspekteɪtər/
a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
strappingadjectiveUS /ˈstræpɪŋ/
muscular and heavily built
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
towelsnounUS /ˈtaʊəlz/
plural of “towel” — a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
TRITEadjectiveUS /traɪt/
repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
UTTERANCESnounUS /ˈʌtərənsɪz/
plural of “utterance” — the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
precisely as stated
From this reading He chivalrously made it clear to us that her defects sprang from the very excess of excellencies in her character.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading CONTAINS A FEW TRITE UTTERANCES ON THE GENTLE PASSION We had to wait a minute for the hot water and fresh towels which our host had had the forethought to order for us.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
belonging to which person
From this reading These were presently brought by a strapping servant lass, whose ill-repressed grins proved that she had been a spectator of these incidents.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading While we waited, the good man's apologies for his wife were truly comic.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading "A notable good woman," says he, while her voice continued to shrill up the stairs.
