used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
abbessnoun
the superior of a group of nuns
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
(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 People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
assembledverbUS /əˈsembəld/
past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
Chidlow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
classesnounUS /ˈklæsəz/
plural of “class” — a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/
-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
conveniencenounUS /kənˈviːnjəns/
the state of being suitable or opportune
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
countriesnounUS /ˈkʌntriz/
plural of “country” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
dinedverbUS /daɪnd/
past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia); the British use “Europe” to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
labouringadjective
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
mutationsnounUS /mjuːˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “mutation” — (biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
under normal conditions
From this reading People in high station usually dined, as it was called, at a very early hour; for, in all the mutations of fashion, nothing has changed more than the dinner hour in Europe.
variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/
characterized by variety
From this reading The labouring classes indeed, of all countries, consulting health and convenience alone, have varied very little.
precisely as stated
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
at the time that
From this reading It was then about the hour of ten, when two or three of the guests appeared in the hall.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading One by one, the guests assembled in the hall of Chidlow castle, for the first meal of the day which, as the reader well knows, was in those days a very substantial affair.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then came the lord of the castle himself, with his sister, the abbess, on his arm.