used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
biddenverbUS /ˈbɪdɪn/
inflected form of “bid” — propose a payment
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
a timepiece that shows the time of day
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
decliningverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading She had refused the invitation, declining to unlock the door.
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
being one more than seven
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
elaboratelyadverbUS /ɪˈlæbrətli/
with elaboration
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading She had refused the invitation, declining to unlock the door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
lacqueredverbUS /ˈlækərd/
past form of “lacquer” — coat with lacquer
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
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 ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
mantelshelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
on one occasion
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
one of four equal parts
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards
From this reading She had refused the invitation, declining to unlock the door.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading She remembered that once her mother had knocked at her door and bidden her come down to dinner.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
ROBINnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/
small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
cut with a saw
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
having a supporting base
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Mary started from her reverie in her chair by the fire.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
the upper part of anything
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
unlockverbUS /ənˈlɑːk/
open the lock of
From this reading She had refused the invitation, declining to unlock the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By the clock on the mantelshelf she saw that it was a quarter past eight.
whirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
in the company of; together with
From this reading ROBIN GOES TO MARY The house telephone, standing on the long and gracefully designed desk with its elaborately lacquered top, whirred.
