used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DINNER AT HOME.
(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 She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A DINNER AT HOME.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
breachverbUS /briːtʃ/
act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading A DINNER AT HOME.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
move gently or carefully
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading A DINNER AT HOME.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
intellectsnounUS /ˈɪntəlekts/
plural of “intellect” — knowledge and intellectual ability
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
engage in
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
Marie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
take in marriage
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
orderlynounUS /ˈɔːrdərli/
a soldier who serves as an attendant to a superior officer
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
OsbornenounUS /ˈɔːzbɔːrn/
English playwright (1929-1994)
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
rulesnounUS /ruːlz/
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
sedateadjectiveUS /sɪˈdeɪt/
characterized by dignity and propriety
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Mrs Osborne did and said everything she could think of to put Marie at ease and make her feel at home.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
at the time that
From this reading When Mrs Osborne and Marie came down to dinner they seemed to be excellent friends.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The mother had one of those sedate, orderly intellects which cannot be comfortable in the presence of any breach in the ordinary rules of conventional life.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She would not have been at all content if she had an assurance George would never marry.
