used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
AdanounUS /ˈeɪdə/
an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
catalogueverbUS /ˈkætəlɔːɡ/
make an itemized list or catalog of; classify
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
EdwinnounUS /ˈedwən/
king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
a person who is older than you are
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
excellences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading She wanted fresh servants.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
HILDA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
Hilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
Maggie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
neatadjectiveUS /niːt/
clean or organized
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
not any; not one
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
ordainedadjectiveUS /ɔːrˈdeɪnd/
fixed or established especially by order or command
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wanted fresh servants.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The elder of Maggie’s two servants had been a good one, but Hilda had shown no interest in the catalogue of her excellences.
slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/
being of delicate or slender build
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Before taking charge of the house Hilda had ordained the operation called "a clean sweep," and Edwin had approved.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
precisely as stated
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading She wanted fresh servants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ada was one of Hilda’s two new servants.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading HILDA ON THE STAIRS I Ada descended the stairs, young, slim, very neat.
