used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The methodical calm of Harkings was that of a convent.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
(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 Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
make calm or still
From this reading The methodical calm of Harkings was that of a convent.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
without variation or change, in every case
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading The methodical calm of Harkings was that of a convent.
convulsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
detailnounUS /dɪˈteɪl/
an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
hold firmly
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
Harkings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
HartleynounUS /ˈhɑːrtli/
English philosopher who introduced the theory of the association of ideas (1705-1757)
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
a social unit living together
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/
a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
a room where books are kept
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
managementnounUS /ˈmænədʒmənt/
the act of managing something
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
methodicaladjectiveUS /məˈθɑːdəkəl/
characterized by method and orderliness
From this reading The methodical calm of Harkings was that of a convent.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
NowherenounUS /ˈnoʊwer/
an insignificant place
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
OverwhelmedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmd/
past form of “overwhelm” — overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
ParrishnounUS /ˈperɪʃ/
United States painter (1870-1966)
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
Parrish's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
reposeverbUS /riˈpoʊz/
put or confide something in a person or thing
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
except for; apart from
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
express in words
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
staffnounUS /stæf/
personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
moving very fast
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The methodical calm of Harkings was that of a convent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nowhere had his master grasp of detail been seen to better advantage than in the management of his country home.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
week-ends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
(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 Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
well-organized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading VOICES IN THE LIBRARY The swift tragedy of the winter afternoon had convulsed the well-organized repose of Hartley Parrish’s household.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
wontnounUS /woʊnt/
an established custom
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Overwhelmed with work though he constantly was, accustomed to carry his business and often part of his business staff to Harkings with him for the week-ends, there was never the least confusion about the house.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading Hartley Parrish was wont to say that he paid his butler and housekeeper well to save himself from worry.
