used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
(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 Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
any thing at all
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
bargainnounUS /ˈbɑːrɡən/
an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
brushverbUS /brʌʃ/
rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
Carstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
cliffnounUS /klɪf/
a steep high face of rock
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
remove the dust from
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
I'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
make a painting
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
rolled-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
rugnounUS /rʌɡ/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
and nothing more
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
having a supporting base
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
in or at that place or location
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
hard to endure
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
TurkishadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrkɪʃ/
of or relating to or characteristic of Turkey or its people or language
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
unframedadjective
not provided with a frame
From this reading Mrs. Carstairs had been standing all this time with an unframed picture in one hand, and a dust brush in the other, and her husband had been sitting on the rolled-up Turkish rug and trying not to look at her.
precisely as stated
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "I'd like to do it very well," he said, simply.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
hope for; have a wish
From this reading If you wish, I'll close with you now and call it a bargain."
in the company of; together with
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading "I don't see that there is anything wrong in painting a picture to order, is there?
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You paint a portrait to order, why shouldn't you paint an old house, or a beautiful castle on a cliff, with the sea beyond it?
