used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
acknowledgmentnounUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒmənt/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
CommitteenounUS /kəˈmɪti/
a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
discourteousadjective
showing no courtesy; rude
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/
the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
fraughtadjectiveUS /frɔːt/
marked by distress
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
good-byenounUS /ɡɪdˈbaɪ/
a farewell remark
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/
crowded or massed together
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
kindestadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndəst/
superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
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 So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
social deportment
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing could have been more gracious.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
in the near future
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
retainverbUS /rɪˈteɪn/
hold back within
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
express in words
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
self-confidencenounUS /ˌselfˈkɑːnfədəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "I shall look forward with great pleasure to the performance.
smittenadjectiveUS /ˈsmɪtən/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
timidadjectiveUS /ˈtɪmɪd/
showing fear and lack of confidence
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
unanimousadjectiveUS /juːˈnænəməs/
in complete agreement
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
at the time that
From this reading So long as one has something to say it is easy to retain self-confidence, but, when the business is finished, the necessity of saying good-bye and beating a retreat becomes fraught with terror to the timid guest.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Committee gave a unanimous murmur of acknowledgment, and were immediately smitten with embarrassment.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The girls felt that it would be discourteous to retire without speaking another word, but what to say they could not think, so they huddled together beside the door, and waited to be dismissed, which they presently were in the kindest of manners.
