used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
(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 The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
any thing at all
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
absence of light or illumination
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
dimensionsnounUS /dɪˈmenʃənz/
plural of “dimension” — the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
eldersnounUS /ˈeldərz/
plural of “elder” — a person who is older than you are
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
EsthernounUS /ˈestər/
(Old Testament) a beautiful Jewess chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen; she stopped a plot to massacre all the Jews in Persia (an event celebrated by Jews as the feast of Purim)
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
apart from; not including
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
the act of departing
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
only a very short time before
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
jadedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒeɪdəd/
exhausted
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
Norton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading All except David; he hardly said anything; he looked dark and jaded; nevertheless he listened to what was going on.
Identical; not different.
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
sociableadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊʃəbəl/
inclined to or conducive to companionship with others
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
in the near future
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
a special situation
From this reading "I know one thing," said Norton; "I must be off to the country pretty soon."
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
varietynounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
precisely as stated
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a few nights after this, that the children were amusing themselves in the same little reception room.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Esther Francis was with them, and the elders were with company in the drawing-room.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The young ones had it all their own way; they had taken tea together in what Norton declared to be a very jolly style; and now in a circle of sociable dimensions, that is, very much drawn together, they were talking over a great variety of things.
