used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
assiduitynoun
great and constant diligence and attention
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
a woman who has recently been married
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
butternounUS /ˈbʌtər/
an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
Cicely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
Cicely's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
a state at a particular time
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
prepare a hot meal
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
Danecourt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
deferencenounUS /ˈdefərəns/
a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
DEWnounUS /duː/
water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
divisible by two
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
farenounUS /fer/
an agenda of things to do
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
freeradjectiveUS /ˈfriːər/
comparative of “free” — not limited or hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
being perceived or observed
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
PEARLSnounUS /pɜːrlz/
plural of “pearl” — a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
by chance
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
retainernounUS /rɪˈteɪnər/
a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
Selina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
SpartanadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrtən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Sparta or its people
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
Stimson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Possibly the Spartan fare at Danecourt Abbey had been too much for Lady Selina.
trifled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
trustynounUS /ˈtrʌsti/
a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges
From this reading Since Cicely’s engagement the cook, a trusty retainer, had been given a freer hand with eggs and butter.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading Stimson waited upon her with even greater deference and assiduity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
Wilverley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More probably, so Cicely reflected, the bride of Arthur Wilverley must be brought to the post in proper condition.
in the company of; together with
From this reading PEARLS OF DEW I Cicely noticed that her mother was unusually silent during dinner, and that she trifled with her food.
